Cape Town – President Jacob Zuma put the need to boost economic growth at the centre of the first major policy speech of his second term on Tuesday, saying he hoped to lift annual growth to 5% by 2019.
Zuma also said he would take direct responsibility for improving social conditions in the mining industry, which has been beset by two years of crippling strikes.

He said the government still strongly believes that the most effective weapon in the campaign against poverty, is the creation of decent work, and that creating work requires faster economic growth.

“To achieve (the set target growth of 5% by 2019), we will embark on various measures and interventions to jump-start the economy.

He said the economy has grown below its potential over the last three years and many households are going through difficulties. “We have (thus) set this target during a difficult period.”

Zuma said the slow growth has been caused in part by the global economic slowdown and secondly by domestic conditions, “such as the prolonged and at times violent strikes, and also the shortage of energy”.

Shortly before Zuma was dew to deliver his State of the Nation address, state utility Eskom announced it has started Stage 1 of load shedding again as the electricity suplly was exceptionally tight.

Also on Tuesday, platinum producers confirmed that they had received a response from mining union Amcu, which could end the almost five-month-long strike plaguing the platinum sector.

Zuma said given the impact of the untenable labour relations environment on the economy, it is critical for social partners to meet and deliberate on the violent nature and duration of the strikes.

The social partners will also need to deliberate on wage inequality, he said.

“On our side as government we will during this term investigate the possibility of a national minimum wage as one of the key mechanisms to reduce the income inequality.”

He said Deputy President Cyril Ramaphosa will convene the social partners dialogue, within the ambit of Nedlac.-Reuters

Mahikeng- Implementation of the youth employment accord is to be assessed, the North West Provincial Government proclaimed at youth dialogues held across all 19 municipalities over the weekend.

Representatives of the provincial government announced  to the over 9000 participants that the assessment to be conducted by the new administration led by Premier Supra Mahumapelo is to cover absorption of young people in the private, green economy, business process sectors and promotion of young cooperatives, entrepreneurship.
A 60% target had been set for absorption of youth in the green economy with the solar heater installation programme identified as a youth focused sector. A target of 80% target was set for young people in the business process sector that includes call centres.   

Work exposure, education, training and public sector measures that had committed to 80% absorption of youth through the Expanded Public Works Programme and the Community Works Programme are also to be assessed.
The assessment will also examine the efficiency and effectiveness of the Narysec programme, the Green, Health and Literacy brigades in the province.

Young people who participated in the dialogues hosted by the Office of the Premier Youth Development Support Directorate in partnership with the National Development Agency and municipalities under the theme ”Youth moving South Africa Forward”  expressed optimism about the establishment of a youth service portal.

The portal is to provide unemployed young people with critical information they require about goods, services, learnerships, bursaries, youth cooperatives, entrepreneurships and job opportunities to participate in the mainstream economy will contribute significantly towards reducing youth unemployment.

“We are excited about the great initiative which has raised our hope,” 28-year-old  Katlego Mopharing from Montshioa.
Her sentiment were echoed by 33 -year- old community leader from Lotlhakaneng village, Eric Manokula who said that the initiative is a good start towards empowering young people to access information and funding.

“There are no short cuts to success. Young people should seek information that should advance their interest in business. We should not rely solely on government to solve our problems. We should be innovative and venture into identified growth sectors to assist government to solve the challenge of youth unemployment through job creation,” successful young Mahikeng businessman, Kelebogile Jacques Seeco of Dikgwetlo Trading said in motivating aspirant entrepreneurs.-TDN
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