Winde seeks to bring unemployment in WC to under 20%
Western Cape Premier Alan Winde said he was obsessed by wanting to create more jobs in the province and his mission is to attract as much investment as possible to make this possible.
Western Cape Premier Alan Winde during his State of the Province Address on 31 July 2024. Picture: Western Cape Provincial Parliament
CAPE TOWN - Western Cape Premier Alan Winde wants to reduce unemployment in the province to under 20%.
The Premier said he was obsessed by wanting to create more jobs in the province and his mission is to attract as much investment as possible to make this possible.
Addressing the opening of the provincial parliament on Wednesday, Winde pledged to continue cutting red tape to allow businesses to get off the ground and grow.
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Winde said that the province's seventh administration would continue with its plan of building an infrastructure-led economy that creates jobs.
The unemployment rate in the province currently stands at 21.4% compared to the national rate of 32.9%.
But Winde was heckled from the opposition benches when he claimed that over 74% of households in the province had at least one salary earner.
"I'm obsessed about jobs and enabling more jobs because with a job, so much is unlocked for our residents. We are determined to make it as easy as possible for the private sector to do business and create more jobs in your province."
Winde said that the provincial government would help to bolster Operation Vulindlela as part of its growth for jobs strategy.
"Here in the Western Cape, we want to see it make an impact on improving the viability of our port, freight and logistics networks because we need to get this economy moving."
With agriculture a major driver of the local economy, Winde appealed to the Government of National Unity (GNU) to prioritise seeking private investment opportunities for the Port of Cape Town.