Cape Town - Tackling alcohol abuse in the Western Cape would, through improved quality of life and decreased related violence, increase potential for investment, Premier Helen Zille said on Wednesday.
Zille said that if alcohol abuse in high-risk areas such as Gugulethu, Nyanga, Khayelitsha, and Paarl East could be decreased by 20 percent, the target of increasing quality of life would increase.
“I am absolutely certain we can achieve this,” she said at a meeting between government and business.
“It would be nice that if, from this, we could get off the list of most violent cities and then, increase investment.” She was discussing one of eight ‘game changers’ chosen by the province.
The province's game changers were a list of goals the Zille administration had set for itself.
In addition to reducing alcohol harms, government would aim to decrease the province's demand from Eskom, ensure 1000 students qualified as artisans every year, double the number of children in quality after school programmes, and provide pupils and staff with instantaneous, free access to e-learning resources.
Decreasing the demand from Eskom would enable the province to remain switched on during loadshedding stages one and two and would thus prevent losses for business.
The two game changers or strategic priority goals (PSGs) focused on education would - ideally - increase the number of skilled workers for the many vacancies left open despite high levels of unemployment.
The three other game changers or PSGs are broadband roll out, an integrated “better living” model, and improved sanitation.
All of these, which Zille conceded were ‘hugely ambitious’, was government's way of providing an environment conducive to running a business.
Zille said that if government achieved providing a ‘context of confidence’, investment and expansion would increase in the province.
“What we need business to do is have confidence in us to play our part,” she said.
“Have faith in the country and invest in the country”.
ANA