By Lehlohonolo Lehana.
KwaZulu-Natal Premier Thami Ntuli has listed eight priorities the Government of Provincial Unity (GPU) will be focusing on this year.
Ntuli delivered the State of the Province Address (Sopa) at the Woodburn Stadium in Pietermaritzburg on Friday.
Rebuilding the economy, strengthening local government and government, sustainable development, improving health care and education, delivering better human settlements and infrastructure, improving community safety, mitigating climate, and building a capable ethical and developmental state.
Ntuli said the provincial government is working hard to stabilise the province, adding that some strides have been made in efforts to tackle crime, poverty, unemployment, and to lessen the impact of natural disasters on citizens.
“Job creation continues to be a critical challenge, with unemployment exceeding 30 percent. The youth face hardship, with two out of three young people unable to secure productive employment.”
“Our social indicators reflect persistent challenges: many citizens live below the food poverty line, and wealth inequality remains stark, with a Gini co-efficient of 0.62. The disparity is evident as the top 10% of our population spends nearly six times more than the bottom 40%.”
Ntuli has assured the province’s citizens that the GPU’s plans to create thousands of jobs are on track.
Ntuli cited major developments in the province’s two industrial hubs of Dube Trade Port and Richards Bay Industrial Zone (RBIDZ) as proof that the GPU’s job creation and economic development initiatives were beginning to bear some fruit.
“Last year, we reported R1,4 billion earmarked for construction projects in Trade Zone 2 at Dube Trade Port, the Ogihara SA manufacturing facility at Trade Zone 2 is 85% complete, with a 5 000m² warehouse 67% completed.
“It [Dube Trade Port] has successfully secured R4,6 billion in private-sector investments and created over 5 000 permanent jobs and 51 000 indirect jobs.
“In the coming year, the Dube Trade Port’s focus will be on increased investments of R500 million private sector funding and job creation with potential of 1 250 new permanent jobs and 250 temporary jobs,” he said.
Ntuli said the process of expanding the area’s industrial sites so that more investors could move in was at an advanced stage.
“The Nyanza Light Metals project in the RBIDZ has commenced with site preparation towards the construction of the commercial plant. Funding secured is to the value of R116 million and site clearance is 81% complete as of January 2025.
“The construction will commence in July 2025, creating more than 3000 construction jobs,” he said.
While most of the jobs being currently created were driven by private sector investment, Ntuli said the provincial government would directly be involved in job creation through the Expanded Public Works Programme.
“KwaZulu-Natal is actively participating in the Extended Public Works Programme. Under this programme Ezemvelo is to create 9 400 employment opportunities through environment sector public employment programmes (EPWP).
While GPU political parties such as the IFP, ANC and DA welcome Ntuli’s Sopa, the MK Party and the EFF rejected the premier’s speech.