January

Education Month

January marks the beginning of the school year. The matric results are usually released in late December or early January. This informs the beginning of every school year. The MEC for Education will comment on the matric results and expand on strategies to continue improving the offering of the Gauteng Education Department.

Registration of students by their parents at schools should take place before the schools open; however, many parents do not do this, particularly those of grade 1 pupils. After the schools open, the pupils who have not yet registered are given spaces at schools. This is often a difficult time. Department of Education officials work together to make sure that all the pupils who present themselves for schooling get a place at school.

Tertiary education institutions also open.

February

Safety Month

The Department of Community Safety runs its safety campaigns in February. The focus is on the awareness and prevention of crime, and the prevention of road accidents and fatalities. A number of crime-prevention events take place, including police and traffic police action.

State of the Province Address

In February every year, the Premier of Gauteng delivers the State of the Province Address, at the official opening of the provincial legislature.

The Premier’s address is the first milestone in the provincial government’s political and communication calendar, and sets the tone and messaging for the year ahead. It provides an important opportunity for the Premier to showcase the provincial government’s achievements, outline progress in fulfilling its commitments as well as the key priorities and commitments for the year ahead in meeting the needs of the people of Gauteng.

As it normally follows the South African President’s State of the Nation Address, the Gauteng State of the Province Address further elaborates and reinforces the messaging and key issues relevant to the province as raised by the President.

March

Human Rights Month

March is Human Rights Month in South Africa, and in Gauteng the month is used to showcase the provincial government’s contribution towards deepening democracy and people’s Constitutional rights.

Through month-long Human Rights campaign, the provincial government aims to show progress made in meeting people’s rights as enshrined in the Constitution.

The highlights of the campaign is the hosting of the Human Rights Day on March 21 – a day declared public holiday to honour the memory of those who were killed by the apartheid police in Sharpeville on 21 March 1960 as well as the countless others who made the ultimate sacrifice in our struggle for freedom in our country.

This day is used to pay tribute to the men and women who left their homes on that fateful morning to participate in a peaceful protest organised by the Pan Africanist Congress against the hated pass laws. Their names are enshrined at the Sharpeville monument so that generations to come can honour and pay tribute to them. 

April

Freedom Month

The focus for April is on the rights of all South Africans in a democratic society. The celebrations take place on the public holiday of 27 April, the day in 1994 that South Africa held its first democratic elections.

Health Month

April is Health Month, and the Gauteng Provincial Government uses the month-long programme to showcase its achievements towards a long a healthy life for all.

May

Workers' Month

International Workers Day is on 1 May, a day that has been a public holiday since the advent of democracy in South Africa. This is the month where the protection of workers by unions is celebrated, and the importance of organised labour is emphasised. The Department of Labour runs awareness campaigns on the rights and responsibilities of both workers and employers.

June

Youth Month

The Gauteng Provincial Government regards youth development as an important part of the province’s vision to transform Gauteng into a globally competitive city region which is both prosperous and addresses the people’s needs.

Youth empowerment and development is critical to sustainable economic growth and social development and in further making youth proud of their province.

Gauteng recently completed the processes to establish Youth Development Agency in the place of the defunct Gauteng Youth Commission. The scrapping of the Gauteng Youth Act is in line with the national government’s decision to abolish the National Youth Commission and the Umsobomvu Youth Fund to establish the National Youth Development Agency. The provincial government has developed programmes and plans to advance youth development in line with provincial priorities for the next five years.

Initiated programmes include:

• Skills development
• Establishment of youth cooperatives
• Use of government procurement to support youth-owned enterprises

The provincial government has set itself a target of using the National Youth Service programme to train 4 000 young people in critical skills such as engineering and project management. Half of the government’s procurement of goods and services will also go to enterprises owned by youth.

Focus areas include:

• Youth development
• Youth and economic opportunities
• National Youth Service Programme
• Education and Training
• Youth and Health Care
• Youth and Crime Prevention
• Youth and Sports and Recreation
• Youth and Arts and Culture
• Youth, the Environment and Tourism
• Youth and Agriculture

July

Nelson Mandela Day: 18 July

The United Nations has declared 18 July, the birthday of former South African President Nelson Mandela, to be International Nelson Mandela Day. The day celebrates Mandela's sacrifices and struggle to make the world a more peaceful and just place. On the day, Mandela has asked that instead of giving him gifts and attention, people should rather give their time to help the community.

On this day everyone is asked to donate 67 minutes of their time to community support, charity and helping out, all over the world. The 67 minutes mark the 67 years Mandela devoted to the struggle against apartheid in South Africa.

August

Women’s Month

With the Women's Day public holiday falling on 9 August, Gauteng marks the month as Women's Month, during which it highlights the province's work to develop and empower women.

Since its inception, the democratic government has introduced a number of policies and programmes which have contributed to the development of women and empowered them to play a more meaningful role in society.

The provincial government recognises that while women have made important gains, there is a lot more work to be done before we can say that we have truly achieved gender equality in our province and in our country. Women are still faced with challenges of poverty, unemployment, abuse and violence.

A wide range of Gauteng government programmes pay special attention to the needs of women. Priority has been given to promoting women’s access to economic opportunities.

The month-long campaign seeks to profile the work of the government towards the development and empowerment of women in the following areas:

• Women and economic empowerment
• Skills development
• Women and agriculture
• Women and transport
• Women and housing
• Women and poverty alleviation
• Basic services for women
• Women and education
• Women and health
• Women and HIV and Aids
• Women and safety
• Women in arts, sport and culture
• Women and democracy
• Women in governance
• Women’s awards

September

Heritage and Tourism Month

In September the focus is on the vibrant and diverse cultures of Gauteng. Heritage Day, the public holiday that falls on 24 September, is celebrated with a range of concerts, dances and festivals. September is also the month of the Gauteng Carnival, organised by the Department of Sport, Arts, Culture and Recreation.

October

Transport Month

The focus in Gauteng's Transport Month campaign is on the use of public transport, the state of the roads and the importance of car pooling. The campaign culminates in Car Free Day, where the public are encouraged to share cars or use public transport to get to work. The campaign is organised by the Department of Transport and Public Works.

Social Development

The Social Development campaign focuses on government strategies to uplift the impoverished and needy. The focus is on what economic development services the province provides, as well as the other social services such as social grants and housing. The campaign is run by the Department of Social Development and Housing

Children’s Month

The children of Gauteng are the focus of this campaign, which highlights the services available specifically for them. In line with Social Development month, specific focus is given to orphaned and vulnerable children.

November

16 Days of No Violence against Women and Children

The 16 Days of Activism begins on 26 November. The focus is on what the government is doing to empower victims of domestic violence, what ARV, counselling and safety services are available, and on how to prevent domestic violence with perpetrators intervention training. This campaign is run by the Departments of Community Safety and Social Development and Housing.

Build-up to World Aids Day.

The focus on HIV and Aids begins.

December

World Aids Day: 01 December

This is the day for remembering those afflicted and affected by HIV, those who are working in the health industry to help assist victims of HIV, and to pray for a cure. The focus is on what health and social services are available to people who are afflicted or affected, including orphans and vulnerable children. This campaign is run by the Department of Health, with information and cooperation from all departments.

International Day for Disabled Persons: 03 December

This is a day where the disabled community get together to ensure awareness of their community, its needs and concerns. The focus is on services the government provides to the disabled community. This is organized by the Office of the Premier, with stakeholders from all Departments and the disabled community.