KWAZULU-NATAL premier Sihle Zikalala said his administration plans to focus on creating more jobs and growing economy in the 2022 financial year through major infrastructure-led development projects.
Zikalala delivered his State of the Province Address on Thursday in Pietermaritzburg.
Zikalala said at the beginning of the sixth Provincial Administration after the 2019 general elections, the provincial government identified eight priorities for the province.
These include the provision of basic services such as immediate challenge being water, build a caring and incorruptible government, job creation, growing the economy, growing SMMEs and cooperatives, education and skills development, human settlements and sustainable livelihoods, and building a peaceful province.
Zikalala said through initiatives implemented in the province the Expanded Public Works Programme (EPWP) created job opportunities amounting to 181 244 over the past year and 139 422 full time opportunities.
The premier said KZN has also attracted new investments of R5.5 billion in various sectors which created 8 875 jobs.
“Through regulating and enforcing compliance in the liquor sector, we have created 1 620 job opportunities, and we expect an additional 2 500 jobs this year,” said Zikalala.
Zikalala said his administration has also implemented KZN Youth Empowerment Fund commitment from an initial R50 million in 2019 to R100 million in 2022 to support young people who want to be job creators rather than job seekers.
He added that transport infrastructure would be the catalyst for economic growth, job creation and development in the coming months in his province.
“We are pleased to confirm that the upgrade of the national network by SANRAL in is on track,”said Zikalala.
He said the route from Cato Ridge to Dardanelle estimated at R1.6 billion is under construction.
Ït has a job creation target of 1 450 jobs, said Zikalala.
He added tha the route from Dardenelles to Lynnfield Park at a contract value of R115 billion is estimated to create 1 400 jobs.
Zikalala also said the exploration of the cannabis industry has stimulated hope among many who had always viewed this as a critical sector for economic growth.
“As we were reminded by His Excellency President Cyril Ramaphosa KwaZulu-Natal and Eastern Cape are the leading provinces that are geared to take advantage of the burgeoning cannabis industry,” said Zikalala.
“Through the Moses Kotane Institute, the Province has since produced a comprehensive study on the green rush. This is to guide our interventions as government, including making substantial hectares of land available for cannabis production. This year, we will fast-track the implementation of Cannabis Master Plan. The MECs for Agriculture and Rural Development and Economic Development will elaborate further in their forthcoming budget speeches.”
In his State of the Nation Address earlier this year, President Cyril Ramaphosa, said government would review the policy and regulatory framework for industrial hemp and cannabis to realise the huge potential for investment and job creation.
Ramaphosa said the hemp and cannabis sector has the potential to create more than 130 000 new jobs.
“We are therefore streamlining the regulatory processes so that the hemp and cannabis sector can thrive like it is in other countries such as Lesotho. Our people in the Eastern Cape, KwaZulu-Natal and elsewhere are ready to farm with this age-old commodity and bring it to market in new and innovative forms,” Ramaphosa said.
– Inside Politics
