Panyaza Lesufi Admits Gauteng Failed to Plan for Population Growth

JOHANNESBURG, South Africa — August 23, 2026 — Gauteng Premier Panyaza Lesufi has acknowledged that the provincial government did not adequately plan for the pressure created by rapid population growth, including migration from other South African provinces and immigration from elsewhere on the continent.

Speaking during the African National Congress's 2026 local government election manifesto launch in Riverside, Diepsloot, Lesufi said Gauteng had underestimated the scale of demand facing the country's most populous province.

According to The Citizen, Lesufi said government had continued building roads, schools, clinics and other infrastructure, but population growth had outpaced the assumptions used for budgeting and planning.

He identified two major pressures: people relocating to Gauteng from other South African provinces in search of opportunities, and people arriving from other African countries who also seek to live and work in the province.

Lesufi said the mismatch between Gauteng's population growth and government planning had become a major problem that the ANC wants to address through its municipal election programme.

Gauteng continues to attract South Africa's largest migrant inflow

Official population estimates support Lesufi's broader concern about the scale of migration into Gauteng.

Statistics South Africa estimates that Gauteng will receive about 1.42 million migrants between 2021 and 2026, the largest inflow recorded for any South African province during the period.

Stats SA's 2026 mid-year population estimates put Gauteng's population at approximately 16.3 million people, representing about 25.7% of South Africa's total population.