Mpumalanga government departments and municipalities have failed to meet Premier Refilwe Mtsweni-Tsipane’s ambitious job creation targets of 99 000 aimed at addressing the 48,1% expanded unemployment crisis ravaging the province.
In February 2023 while presenting her State of the Province Address (SOPA), Mtsweni-Tsipane announced the ambitious Mpumalanga Government’s Job Massification Plan where she tasked all her departments and municipalities to create 99 000 within the 2023/2024 financial year. Each department and municipality were given a certain target to meet, but only the Departments of Safety & Security and CoGTA reached their targets.
The 2023/2024 Financial Year comes to an end on 31 March 2024, but the provincial departments and municipalities only managed to create 26 699 jobs so far out of the 99 000 that Premier Mtshweni-Tsipane tasked them to create. Like any other job creation plan before, this means that Mtsweni-Tsipane’s ambitious Mpumalanga Government’s Job Massification Plan has also failed. It is obvious that this pronouncement was not taken seriously by her Cabinet as they only managed to create 26 699 (26.96%) of the 99 000 jobs. Could this be a sign that Mtsweni-Tsipane’s Cabinet has lost faith in her?
Had the Cabinet shown their full support and tried their level best by completing the Mpumalanga International Fresh Produce Market as well as the Agri-Hubs; or completed the various (incomplete) hospitals and schools across Mpumalanga, the 99 000 jobs could have been created in the 2023 year and many families would have been less reliant on government for social grants or even food parcels.
Below are the targets given to each department, and the only figures they could manage to reach:
- The Department of Public Works, Roads and Transport had a target of creating 13 629 jobs, but they only created 8 877 (4 752 outstanding).
- The Department of Agriculture, Rural Development, Land and Environmental Affairs had a target of 5 176, but only managed to create 2 634 jobs (2 542 outstanding)
- The Department of Education had a target of 3 668, but only managed to create 2 371 jobs (1 297 outstanding.
- The Department of Health had a target of 992, but only managed to create 262 (730 outstanding).
- The Department of Economic Development and Tourism had a target of 289, but created only 67 jobs (222 outstanding).
- The Mpumalanga Tourism and Parks Agency (MTPA) had a target of 1 160, but only created 253 jobs (907 outstanding).
- The Mpumalanga Economic Growth Agency (MEGA) has a target of 10 956, but only created a lousy 43 jobs. (10 913 outstanding).
- Municipalities were mandated to create 16 844, but only managed to create 11 008 (5 836 outstanding).
- The Department of Community Safety, Security and Liaison had a target of 804, but went above their target and created 994 jobs (190 more jobs).
- CoGTA had a target of creating 190 jobs. They reached their target.
Only the Democratic Alliance (DA) has practical solutions and plans to Rescue South Africa from unemployment and poverty. We have a realistic plan in place as outlined in our manifesto proposal. We will bring this very high unemployment rate down by creating two million new jobs across the country. This will be done by doing the following:
- creating conditions for the private sector to thrive,
- reforming labour markets,
- removing all the unnecessary red tapes that hinder the ordinary South African from starting a small business,
- changing the tax system to encourage investment,
- developing a competitive export orientated economy,
- and by getting the public finances under control.
In addition, the DA will also introduce the Youth Employment Opportunity Certificate which will empower young people. This will give them a better chance to find employment in this country that needs economic growth and sustainable prosperity.
The DA can rescue South Africans from unemployment and change the dismal picture we currently see. We will build a capable state that implements plans and solutions meant to benefit all South Africans. However, this can only be achieved if every eligible voter goes out to vote for the DA on the 29th of May 2024.