Cape Town — President Cyril Ramaphosa has called for inclusive economic growth and job creation to take center stage in the government’s efforts to address the challenges facing Mpumalanga.
During a meeting with the province’s executive on Monday, Ramaphosa underscored the need for a focused approach to harness the province’s growth potential.
He said that this was a critical time to drive economic transformation.
“Therefore, inclusive economic growth and job creation must therefore be at the forefront of the efforts of government and all social partners,” Ramaphosa said.
The meeting, which was the third in a series of discussions between the National Executive and Provincial Executive Councils, followed similar engagements in Limpopo and KwaZulu-Natal (KZN), a statement said.
The president welcomed the detailed approach that provincial leadership has taken to focus on areas to improve economic growth and job creation. The meeting looked at how the province’s vision for future catalytic projects would inject more growth into Mpumalanga.
[WATCH] President Cyril Ramaphosa calls for the Mpumalanga Executive Council to impress him with an ambitious presentation on how it plans to build the economy and enhance development that meets the needs of the people.#Newzroom405 pic.twitter.com/fTsqEmSb7N
— Newzroom Afrika (@Newzroom405) December 10, 2024
Ramaphosa encouraged the province to explore project funding mechanisms that are not wholly dependent on the national fiscus.
“Relevant state agencies will work closely with the province in the packaging of catalytic projects for private sector partnership and funding.,” he said.
The meeting agreed on further enhancing inter-governmental cooperation in addressing pressing issues in the provision of basic services such as water sanitation and electricity.
Ramaphosa applauded the Mpumalanga province for its investments in social infrastructure such as boarding schools and hospitals.
According to Newzroom Afrika, the president said that Mpumalanga will be at the centre of Just Energy Transition, and the government will discuss ways to upskill people to create more opportunities.
“These are some of the discussions you ought to have with yourselves to see how best as Mpumalanga, we can turn the tide around so that greater benefit can flow from this era we are getting into, of low-carbon economy,” he said.
“We need to ensure that this transition does not damage the livelihoods of our people in this province, rather we must plan and invest in new technologies, and new industries and we must be able to skill, reskill and upskill our people into jobs that are needed by the new era we are getting into,” he added.
WATCH BELOW:
[WATCH] President Cyril Ramaphosa says Mpumalanga will be at the centre of the Just Energy Transition. He says the government will discuss with the provincial executive council ways of upskilling the people and creating more opportunities in communities as the province battles… pic.twitter.com/BLchwg3xtb
— Newzroom Afrika (@Newzroom405) December 10, 2024
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Compiled by Matthew Petersen
