Sibongakonke Shoba and Hajra Omarjee
30 September 2008
Johannesburg — AS A former Congress of South African Trade Unions general secretary, a defiant Gauteng Premier Mbhazima Shilowa followed the workers' slogan "an injury to one is an injury to all" when he resigned after his boss was "unfairly" dismissed by the ruling African National Congress (ANC).
Yesterday, Shilowa maintained that the ANC national executive committee's decision to fire former president Thabo Mbeki was unfair and unjust. "I am of a view that there was no cogent reason for doing so."
Shilowa gave up on his dream to see the provincial economy grow by 8% by 2014. In an interview with Business Day earlier this year, Shilowa said growing the economy 8% by 2014 looked impossible in 2004, but now the target looked low.
Shilowa said he intended completing his term, but yesterday shocked even his own staff when he announced his resignation.
Under his leadership, the Gauteng economy grew 5,5% in 2004, 5,3% in 2005 and 6% last year. His administration spearheaded the 11 Blue IQ projects, including the Gautrain rapid rail link, which had helped grow the provincial economy.
It is estimated that in 2007-08 the Gautrain project created and sustained more than 29400 direct, indirect and induced jobs.
According to the 2007 Community Survey conducted by Statistics SA, Gauteng households using electricity remained the highest in the country at 83,5%. The percentage of households with piped water stood at 97,9%.
The unemployment rate shrunk from 30,8% in 2003 to 22,6% last year. The labour absorption rate improved from 47,3% to 52,1% in the same period.
Yesterday, Shilowa spoke proudly of his administration's successes. "Many people who were previously unemployed now have jobs ... Many people who previously lived in poverty are now better off."
The Johannesburg Chamber of Commerce and Industry (JCCI) said that it was "very saddened" by Shilowa's departure.
JCCI CEO Keith Brebnor said now that Shilowa was gone, business needed to know if the Gautrain project would be affected.
"We called it the Shilowa Express because it was his project. Now that he is gone, we need to know if the project will be re-looked. Will we remain on track."
Political analyst Steven Friedman said Shilowa's leadership style in government was similar to that of Mbeki.
"Shilowa tried to run Gauteng the way Mbeki ran the country.
"He brought a lot of smart people in to solve the problems," said Friedman.
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