The Eastern Cape is one of three provinces that is to receive a sizeable share of government’s job creation project.

This is estimated to be between 35 000 and 40 000 jobs each year over the next five years with most projects being located in the former Transkei where the need is the greatest.

The project hopes to create employment for one million unemployed people nationwide over the next five years and has recently had its business plan for the Expanded Public Works Programme (EPWP) approved.

The launch of the programme, which is imminent, will be phased in to help boost economic growth and sustainable development in the medium term.

Essentially, the programme hopes to draw significant numbers of unemployed people into productive employment where they can improve their skills while being employed and increasing their capacity to earn an income.

Departments driving this plan include the Department of Public Works, Environment Affairs and Tourism, Agriculture, Education, Health, Social Development and Trade and Industry. Also involved will be provincial and local governments, and civil society formations.

The other two provinces which are targeted to get special attention from this project are Limpopo and KwaZulu-Natal.

ECDC executive manager human resources Pat Zondi comments:
The core business of the Eastern Cape Development Corporation is to stimulate the economy of the Eastern Cape through enterprise development. The spin-off from such a programme is to combat unemployment and eradicate poverty by creating job opportunities through income generating project. Any initiative that is aimed at fighting the aforementioned scourges is most welcome, particularly if it targets the former Transkei for implementation.

It is known fact that the former Transkei was the main victim of the apartheid system and rehabilitation of the infrastructure as envisaged should be a priority. Also, the skills base within the area is thin in terms the level of sophistication and, therefore, the kind of projects that are envisaged will be most appropriate for the basic skills which are prevalent in the area. It is my view that the poor infrastructure needs such initiatives.