Lesufi’s 2026 Sopa debate: ‘Promises are repeated, the figures grow bigger’

Gauteng Premier Panyaza Lesufi. Picture: X / @GautengProvince Gauteng legislators have taken their chance to criticise the province’s premier. Members of the Provincial Legislature (MPL) were allowed time on Thursday to comment on Premier Panyaza Lesufi’s State of the Province Address (Sopa), delivered on Monday evening.

Water, infrastructure, and expenditure were common themes, with one ANC MPL suggesting a novel way to raise money to give the province a greater pool of resources. DA Gauteng leader Solly Msimanga repeated an offer of unity with Lesufi on the grounds that good ideas should not be ignored simply because they come from a political opponent. He called for all the mayors and committee executives to band together to develop a provincial master plan with measurable targets.

“Until such time as we come around the table and say here is the infrastructure masterplan, municipalities will not be able to then deal with things on their own,” he said. This extended to public transport, with Msimanga saying it was pointless talking about high-speed rail when basic train services were scarce. “What are we saying about those who need transport every morning to go to and from workspaces.

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That is what needs to be preoccupying our minds,” Msimanga suggested. He urged the premier to be mindful of public utterances to avoid sounding detached from the general public. “Let us be very careful of the statements we make out there. Let us be careful not to sound like we are tone deaf and cannot hear the plight of the people.” Msimanga highlighted the water crisis, saying any comparison to the Western Cape’s flirtation with Day Zero was false, as Gauteng had an abundance of water.

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