Gauteng's new economic plan to be launched in May

22 February 2016 - 14:44 By Shenaaz Jamal And Penwell Dlamini

The Gauteng Provincial Government will soon launch a new economic plan which is aimed at addressing unemployment faced by the country's economic hub.In his State of the Province Address in Sebokeng‚ Gauteng Premier David Makhura said the new provincial plan would be taken to the business community for public consultation and be formally launched in May.In the plan‚ provincial government will identify major sectors of the economy where it will intervene to stimulate growth and create much-needed jobs.These sectors include the services sector‚ retail‚ hospitality‚ financial services and real estate.Gauteng currently provides over 40% of the country's employment but its unemployment figure stands at more than 2-million people. With the inward migration of about 200000 people a year‚ the province is under immerse pressure to create jobs in order to fight the social ills associated with unemployment.Earlier on Monday‚ proceedings at the address will delays an Economic Freedom Fighters (EFF) member Mandisa Mashego challenged speaker Ntombi Mekgwe for not allowing her statement to be read during the sitting.EFF member Ntobeng Ntobeng then complained about the fact that there were no microphones allocated to each member of the legislature as is the norm."Was it done deliberately? Normally‚ we have microphones‚ but today it is not the case. This is against our freedom of speech‚" Ntobeng challenged the speaker.That led to a two-minute pause in proceedings‚ before Mekgwe moved on with the special sitting of the legislature.As instructed by the speaker‚ Makhura began his speech despite efforts by the EFF with raised hands to disrupt the commencement of the Sopa. ..

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