WC to allocate R43.7bn for jobs programmes over next 3 years
Western Cape Finance MEC Deidré Baartman said that while the province had the lowest unemployment rate in the country at 19.6%, the number was still too high.
FILE: Unemployed builders, tilers and plumbers hold signs seeking jobs on the side of the road in Johannesburg. Picture: AFP
CAPE TOWN - The Western Cape government says it will allocate R43.7 billion for jobs programmes over the next three years as part of its vision to help businesses grow and create jobs.
Finance MEC Deidré Baartman made the announcement while tabling the province’s 2025/26 budget on Thursday.
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Baartman said that while the province had the lowest unemployment rate in the country at 19.6%, the number was still too high.
"We have a project Speaker, a R1 trillion economy by 2035, growing at 4% to 6% per year, delivering 600,000 jobs. That is the project, this is the vision of our growth for jobs strategy."
The MEC said that the province would also allocate R3.9 billion towards safety programmes.
"Speaker, crime shadows society with fear, fractious communities, and stifles economic growth. It diverts resources into security instead of progress. It erodes trust and disrupts daily life, making individuals and businesses more focus on survival than on innovation and prosperity. Make no mistake, safety is linked to economic growth and job creation."