Crime, potholes, water, electricity, rates and taxes: these are among the issues affecting Gauteng residents every day. This morning, Jacaranda FM’s Breakfast with Martin Bester put those questions directly to Gauteng Premier Panyaza Lesufi in his first-ever live interview with the station.
Joining Martin Bester, Philicity Reeken and Xola Ntshinga, Lesufi faced questions from Jacaranda FM listeners as well as the Breakfast team, resulting in a wide-ranging conversation that moved beyond political headlines to address some of the province’s most pressing challenges.
Crime emerged as one of the biggest concerns, with Lesufi outlining a 10-point approach that he believes can help strengthen law enforcement across Gauteng. The plan includes increased use of satellite technology, expanded CCTV networks, drones and helicopters, a new vehicle registration system, reducing reliance on cash, managing crime hotspots, tackling illegal firearms, targeting repeat offenders and creating a more coordinated law-enforcement response across municipal boundaries.
“If there’s a single thing that makes me not sleep well at night, and continue with my sleepless nights, it’s crime,” said Lesufi, acknowledging the impact crime has on both residents and Gauteng’s economic prospects. “If you can’t manage crime, we are not going to manage our economy and if you can’t manage our economy, you are not going to attract investment.”
Lesufi also responded to questions about the province’s reported 5.2% decrease in crime during the previous quarter, acknowledging that the reduction needs to be viewed against the scale of the challenge. “It’s a drop in an ocean if you check the number of crime that we have,” he said.
Tackling Gauteng’s everyday frustrations from potholes to power
The conversation also turned to the service-delivery issues that residents encounter in their daily lives, including potholes, unreliable water and electricity, broken streetlights and traffic lights.
Lesufi said one of the challenges facing Gauteng is the division of responsibility between municipal, provincial and national government, which can make it difficult for residents to know which authority is responsible for a particular issue.
He said the province is working towards a more streamlined approach to infrastructure problems, regardless of which level of government technically owns the asset. “We don’t care whether it’s a national road or provincial road, as long as the streetlight is not working, go and fix it,” he said.
The discussion demonstrated the role that live radio can play in connecting audiences directly with decision-makers, giving listeners the opportunity to raise the issues they experience rather than simply hearing prepared political messaging.
Lesufi outlines his vision for Gauteng’s next five years
Looking beyond the immediate challenges facing the province, Lesufi also shared his vision for repositioning Gauteng’s economy and reducing its historic reliance on mining.
He said Johannesburg should increasingly develop as a hub for technology, ICT and telecommunications, while Tshwane could strengthen its position around government, research, universities and the automotive sector.
The West Rand, meanwhile, could play a larger role in agriculture and energy, including solar power, while the southern parts of Gauteng and the Vaal region could focus on water-related industries and manufacturing.
One of the more ambitious proposals discussed was a high-speed rail connection between Gauteng and Polokwane, with Lesufi targeting a journey time of approximately 67 minutes.
“That thing must happen in our lifetime,” he said.
A more personal conversation
While the interview focused heavily on the issues facing Gauteng, Lesufi also opened up about his personal journey, including growing up in Thembisa after his family was forcibly removed from Edenvale during apartheid.
He spoke about his parents’ emphasis on education, his involvement in politics while still at school and being arrested during matric, resulting in him writing his final examinations in prison.
Lesufi also revealed a less expected side of his ambitions, telling the Breakfast team that had politics not become his career, he may have pursued acting. “Stage acting would have been it. I love acting,” he said.
For Jacaranda FM, the interview reflects the station’s commitment to creating meaningful conversations around the issues that matter to its audience, while giving listeners access to influential voices and decision-makers.
“Breakfast radio has a responsibility to reflect the conversations happening around us,” says Vuyani Dombo, Managing Director at Jacaranda FM. “Our listeners live with these issues every day, so we wanted to give them the opportunity to put their questions directly to the Premier and hear his responses in an open, live conversation. Whether it is crime, service delivery or the future of Gauteng, these are conversations our audience wants and needs to be part of.”
Missed it? Listen to the full interview with Premier Panyaza Lesufi on Jacaranda FM’s Breakfast with Martin Bester here: https://iono.fm/e/1706643.
Tune into ‘Breakfast With Martin Bester’ every weekday on Jacaranda FM between 06:00 and 09:00.
