By Bathandwa Mbola

Midrand - The Gauteng Provincial Government has prioritised 20 townships which will see major improvements to better the lives of its citizens.

"In various townships we are rolling out a programme called the '20 Priority Townships' and essentially its to improve the standard of living of people in those areas," Gauteng Premier Paul Mashatile told the community of Tembisa during an Imbizo on Wednesday.

He said the 20 Priority Townships Programme will see townships undergoing a major facelift, with billions of Rands being pumped into tarring roads, putting up street lamps and developing properties such as shopping malls.

The project, which kicked off in 2006, is aimed at providing and rehabilitating existing social and economic infrastructure in the previously marginalised 20 townships.

The 20 townships include Attridgeville, Soshanguve, Mamelodi, Kagiso, Munsieville, Mohlakeng, Boipatong, Bophelong Sharpeville, Sebokeng, Ratanda, Katlegong, Kwatsaduza, Wattville, Daveyton and Tembisa among others.

The premier, accompanied by Members of Executive Council (MECs), for housing, transport, education, sport and finance, interacted with ordinary South Africans to communicate Government's Programme of Action and report on progress being made.

Concerned residents raised issues around the lack of sanitation, roads and decent housing.

Through the programme, Mr Mashatile said the provincial government would also prioritise the provision of critical services such as water and sanitation in townships, adding that by 2009 all Gauteng townships should have clean water.

With regards to migration, which sees people from all parts of South Africa migrating to the province in search of a better life, the premier said his government is to unveil a long-term plan soon to address questions of human settlement, location of factories and integrated housing development plans.

"We are aware of your plight and as government we are doing everything in our power to find solutions to your problems," he told the crowds.

Residents said they also had to travel to other parts of Tembisa to receive health facilities while the clinic in the area was closed.

They also raised concerns about the process of registering as an indigent household and the high levels of crime.

In response to their concerns the provincial government and community leaders promised the people of Tembisa that their concerns and challenges will be addressed as they have a turn-around strategy to tackle all existing challenges.

Tembisa is the closest township to the O.R. Tambo International Airport. With a rich history and much advancement, Tembisa could become an attractive destination for visitors, but this is set against a high unemployment rate and rampant crime in the township.

With regards to crime, the premier said: "As government, we want our people to live in a crime-free society.

"We cannot do it alone; we need you to come in because the crimes are committed in your communities," he said, adding that it was time for communities to take charge and fight against crime.

In the coming months, he pledged that government will strengthen its crime prevention efforts by building a strong movement against crime in partnership with the residents and civil society organisations.

"In the coming months, we will strengthen the criminal justice system," he promised, calling on people to join as patrollers and join in the community policing forum.

Mr Mashatile reported to the community that the provincial government was on track to meet its target of eliminating informal settlements by 2014, as per the Millenium Development Goals, but cautioned the challenge was to prevent the building of new shacks.

Four years ago, the government identified informal settlements that had to be demolished to make way for proper formal housing units, however this led to many problems.

"Together we must come up with a comprehensive rural development programme that will make sure that not everybody leaves for the cities," the premier said.

The imbizo gave the residents of Tembisa a platform to raise issues or problems with those in authority and also gave them direct access to the premier and MECs so that they could voice their concerns. - BuaNews