unemployment
26 June 2007
Gauteng Premier Mbhazima Shilowa has called for speedy delivery to reduce
levels of poverty, unemployment and underdevelopment in the province.
Presenting the budget for his office at the provincial legislature on
Tuesday, 26 June 2007, Shilowa said members of the executive council and
municipal mayors had agreed at a recent Lekgotla to move beyond the ordinary to
address these challenges.
"Our people are looking up to us to liberate them from poverty, hunger,
unemployment and underdevelopment. We are the key to their upliftment and
social emancipation. Let us make the remaining years to 2009 a special period
and work to the maximum of our ability to achieve our goal of a better Gauteng
for all," he said.
He outlined three broad priorities as areas that the government will focus
on in the coming years to 2009. These are building Gauteng as a globally
competitive city region, implementing the Gauteng Social Development Strategy
and building sustainable communities and strengthening the capacity and
organisation of the state.
The Premier said skills development was central to the province's efforts to
reduce poverty and build the economy. He said the provincial government would
be taking more graduates into its learnerships and internships programme.
By March this year, 5 726 graduates had been registered on the Learnership
and Internship programme within the Gauteng government. This represented 9% of
the public servant staff establishment and a percent above the 8% target for
the year.
He also urged teachers and learners to put in extra effort to make up for
the time lost during the public service strike. He said the initiative to
better the education of the African child should not be derailed by the current
ongoing industrial action.
Enquiries:
Simon Zwane
Cell: 082 551 9892
Issued by: Office of the Premier, Gauteng Provincial Government
26 June 2007
Source: SAPA
