KwaZulu-Natal takes the lead in creating jobs
While the rest of the country is struggling to create new jobs or retaining existing ones, the Province of KwaZulu-Natal has managed to keep its head above water with respect to the generation of employment opportunities.
Stats SA reports that nationally joblessness shot from 27.2% to 27.5% in the third quarter as a result of ponderous growth.
But the coastal province has demonstrated astonishing resilience which is attributed to collaborative efforts by government, business sector, organised labour and civic organisations, according to MEC for Economic Development, Tourism and Environmental Affairs MEC, Mr Sihle Zikalala.
The Stats SA's Quarterly Labour Force Survey showed that 98 000 more people got employment in KwaZulu-Natal in the third quarter of 2018.
“This is exciting news and it tells us that our efforts to build a strong economy are bearing fruits. It is also a clear indication that the KwaZulu-Natal Economic Council – an ensemble comprising representatives of organised labour, the business sector, government and civic organisations is doing well,” said Mr Zikalala.
Working with its partners, KwaZulu-Natal government was building a competitive and sustainable economy as a means to boost growth, reduce unemployment and poverty levels, he added.
Mr Zikalala further said more people would find employment as the provincial government continues to implement its developmental programmes targeting the small enterprises. “Our aim is to grow the number of small enterprises because they have shown that they are capable of creating jobs to stimulate local economies.”
The growth in employment figures was also as a result of increased in appetite for businesses to invest in the diverse sectors of the economy in the province as Mr Zikalala observed.
“We have in the recent past seen an increased number of businesses that want to do business in our province. They are responding positively to our campaign to attract investors. The Dube Trade Port and the Richards Bay Industrial Development Zone have attracted a lot of investments since declared as Special Economic Zones that offer special incentives to enterprises. ”
Mr Zikalala said that a list of investment opportunities worth more than R270 billion, that his department had packaged and recently announced for inclusion as part of government's grand investment target of 100 billion dollars for the next five years, was expected to generate hundreds of thousands of job opportunities.
For more information please contact:
Bongani Shisa Tembe
Tel: 033 3288000
Cell: 082 327 2600
