Johannesburg - Gauteng Premier David Makhura wants to contain job
losses and to increase more foreign direct investment in Gauteng after more foreign investment went to Mozambique in 2015.
Makhura outlined his plans when he tabled his political report in the Gauteng Provincial Legislature this week, saying the prospects of job opportunities in Gauteng were looking good.
“During the second quarter of 2016, our provincial economy grew by 2.9 percent, up from 0.1 percent in the first quarter. In this period, Gauteng recorded the highest number of new jobs created in the economy - 126 000 - compared to 93 000 in the Eastern Cape and 49 000 in the Western Cape.
“The Gauteng unemployment rate declined by 0.4percent. The key sectors that are driving the recovery are manufacturing (8.1 percent), finance (3.3 percent), agriculture and agro-processing and transport (2.8 percent),” he said.
However, he said that was not enough, adding that the Gauteng economy needed to create at least 400000 jobs per annum “if we are to deal with the scourge of unemployment, and the perennial challenges of rapid urban migration”.
Makhura said he hoped more jobs would be created before the end of March next year.
According to Makhura, the Gauteng economy created 209000 jobs in the formal sector and 151000 jobs in the informal sector in 2015.
He said employment figures were likely to grow as his government continued to give positive support to the township economy.
Makhura also said his government was engaging big business to create more job opportunities in its sector.
“We have intensified engagements with key sector and industry leaders in automotive, machinery and capital equipment business process outsourcing, aerospace and defence, food and beverages and ICT through firm-level visits and meeting with industry leaders in order to address all impediments that hinder the growth of key sectors to unlock their potential for employment, empowerment and export,” he said.
He said more would be done next year.
Makhura also revealed new strategies of engaging foreign and African countries to make Gauteng their preferred destination for foreign direct investment.
“The strategy identifies key countries, city regions and cities in Africa, Brics, Asia, Europe and the Americas whose economies are compatible with the Gauteng economy and promotes mutually beneficial twinning agreements with such economies, ” Makhura added.