Full-throttle commitment for work in Limpopo

Written by Nthambeleni Gabara

Limpopo's economy is showing major signs of improvement thanks to a number of initiatives to fight unemployment.

Limpopo Premier Cassel Mathale said job creation was one of the provincial government’s top priorities. “… we are committed to fight poverty and unemployment in a quest to improve the livelihoods of the people of our province.”

Meaningful transformation

“We are working full throttle to translate our commitment to make 2011 a year of job creation through meaningful economic transformation and inclusive growth into reality,” he said.

In the first quarter of the current financial year, the provincial government created more than 62 400 permanent jobs mainly in rural areas still stuck in poverty and unemployment. 

Commitment

The achievement is a response to the commitment made earlier this year by provincial government to create more than 166 000 jobs in the public sector.

The office of the Premier created 143 jobs; Public Works 581, Agriculture 1 536; Sport, Arts and Culture 15, Education 17 890; Local Government and Housing 939; Treasury 17; Safety, Security and Liaison 2; Roads and Transport 19 978; Health 8 860 and Social Development 2 566 jobs.

The Extended Public Works (EPWP) sector in the province has created over 17 800 temporary jobs during the period over review.

Potential

The social sector has created 3 303; infrastructure 9 337; environment 307; while the non-state sector has created 4 927 jobs through the EPWP programme.

The province shows great potential to do even better in future. It has excellent road, rail, and air links. The N1 route from Johannesburg, which extends the length of the province, is the busiest overland route in Africa in terms of cross-border trade in raw materials and beneficiated goods.

The port of Durban, Africa’s busiest, is served directly by the province, as are the ports of Richards Bay and Maputo.