Cachalia undertakes to create more jobs
Gauteng economic development minister Firoz Cachalia undertook to create more jobs by encouraging self-employment in his budget vote speech on Thursday.
“The policy debate has to move beyond the technical requirements of macro-economic stabilisation to the imperative of creating decent jobs, sustainable livelihoods and a humane, socially just society,” said Cachalia.
A “critical element” in job creation was “to encourage self-employment”.
“The department is driving this through the Gauteng Enterprise Propeller (GEP)—an agency that provides financial and non-financial support to small, medium and micro enterprises.”
Some jobs could be created in the tourism sector, he said.
“Last year alone Gauteng tourism arrivals exceeded four million tourists contributing about R17-billion to the local economy.
“This sector has a potential to grow even further and contribute to decent work and growth.”
Cachalia said cronyism and corruption undermined “the capacity of the state to carry out its developmental role are tackled”.
“This is all the more so in the context of the current recession and our response thereto.”—Sapa
