Eastern Cape Premier Noxolo Kiviet says the province will succeed only when all contributors to the gross domestic product of the province are deliberate in collaborating to fight poverty and under development.
Addressing over 200 representatives of Eastern Cape stakeholders at the East London International Convention Centre today, Premier Kiviet said the provincial government only accounts for less than one-third of the provincial gross domestic product (GDP of over R220 billion) with the rest vested in business, individuals and other civil society structures.
“Whatever angle you use to look at our scenario, government alone can never make the required dent in turning the tide against – poverty, unemployment and inequality in our province” said Premier Kiviet.
The stakeholder briefing session held in East London is meant to give stakeholders beyond the legislature an opportunity to understand government performance reports, the programme of action while mobilising various players to join hands to improve service delivery and citizen participation in governance and development.
Giving an overview of her report on the state of the province, Premier Kiviet said, over 150 000 jobs were created through among others the Expanded Public Works Programme to provide young people with work opportunities on time to increase their chances of absorption into the mainstream job market.
She re-affirmed government’s commitment to successful execution of over R130 billion massive infrastructure development programme that includes Coega transhipment hub, uMzimvubu Dam, N2 Wild Coast, Mthatha revitalisation and airport expansion programme and the establishment of a manganese smelter in Coega that will be supported by a railway line with Northern Cape mines.
She expressed confidence that with the execution of these programmes, the Eastern Cape economy can bark the international trends and return to the pre-gobal crisis levels of GDP growth of more than 4%.
She said the government’s commitment and execution of the stimulus infrastructure programme, the private sector has begun to come on board with significant investments that run to more than R100 billion in the Eastern Cape over the next five years.
These commitments include an estimated R81 billion state of the art oil refinery called Umthombo project aimed at ensuring fuel and energy security for South Africa and the SADC region. Others include over R20 billion pipelines investments in the two industrial development zones – Coega and East London IDZ.
The Post–SoPA Stakeholder briefing session follows the Premier delivery of the state of the province address in the provincial legislature on Friday last week and forms part of the standing annual corporate events calendar of the provincial government.
The session was attended by the MECs, heads of department, executive mayors and municipal managers from across the province. Stakeholders represented included the NGO, labour organisations, faith-based organisations, business representatives and academic institutions of the Eastern Cape.
Enquiries:
Manelisi Wolela
Cell: 083 626 0304
Email: Manelisi.wolela@otp.ecprov.gov.za
