The KwaZulu-Natal Provincial Treasury has once again facilitated a ground-breaking initiative, the launch of a Provincial Steering Committee to plan and address problems of financial illiteracy in the province.
The launch of the committee, the first of its kind in the province, is part of the Provincial Treasury’s campaign to ensure that the province has a finically literate population.
The committee, whose Champion is the MEC for Finance, Ina Cronjé, is made up of representatives from around the country and they include Standard Bank, Absa Bank, Capitec Bank, First National Bank, Nedbank, Financial Services Board, Banking Association, Black Management Forum, Centre for Adult Basic Education, South Coast Chamber of Commerce and Industry, Christian Coalition, Artwell and Associates, Morar Incorporated as well as you and your money.
The committee will plan financial literacy initiatives to ensure that all target audience groups are reached. In the near future, the committee will have its first official meeting to work out its action plan and terms of reference.
Endorsing the launch of the Steering Committee, the First Lady, Dr May Mashego said one of the tasks facing the committee is to target new parents, who are mainly the youth, because they tend to leave beyond their means. She also said it would be advisable for these initiatives to be rolled out in schools so that children can learn the art of using the money while still young.
She also applauded the Provincial Treasury for leading and ensuring that private sector partners are part of this initiative.
Giving the committee her blessings, MEC Cronjé said, “I am glad we have launched a committee to embark on financial literacy education. I am actually excited that we have gotten to this stage where we get experts from specialist organisations that are passionate about this campaign as much as we are as government.”
She said financial illiteracy is not limited to poor people, but there are a lot of people affected by this.
The launch of the Provincial Steering Committee comes hot in the heels of numerous roadshows spearheaded by Provincial Treasury in different districts of the province which have seen the communities learn about the need to save and to use money wisely.
For more information contact:
Musa Cebisa
Cell: 071 687 8777
