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LIMPOPO PLANS JOB CREATION

ECONOMY GROWTH: Limpopo MEC for economic development, environment and tourism Pitsi Moloto during the launch of the Employment Growth and Development Plan for the Limpopo provincial government. The launch was held at Melrose Arch in Johannesburg yesterday. Pic: ANTONIO MUCHAVE. 1815/2010. © Sowetan. 20101518AMU/NEWS. Pitsi Moloto ,Limpopo MEC for Economic Development ,Environment and Tourismo during the LEGDP media launch for the Limpopo Provincial Government . The laounch was held at Melso Arch in Johanneburg. PHOTO : ANTONIO MUCHAVE .
ECONOMY GROWTH: Limpopo MEC for economic development, environment and tourism Pitsi Moloto during the launch of the Employment Growth and Development Plan for the Limpopo provincial government. The launch was held at Melrose Arch in Johannesburg yesterday. Pic: ANTONIO MUCHAVE. 1815/2010. © Sowetan. 20101518AMU/NEWS. Pitsi Moloto ,Limpopo MEC for Economic Development ,Environment and Tourismo during the LEGDP media launch for the Limpopo Provincial Government . The laounch was held at Melso Arch in Johanneburg. PHOTO : ANTONIO MUCHAVE .

LIMPOPO plans to cut unemployment by half by promoting its mining, agriculture and tourism industries.

LIMPOPO plans to cut unemployment by half by promoting its mining, agriculture and tourism industries.

This was revealed yesterday at Melrose Arch in Johannesburg when MECs unveiled its Employment Growth and Development Plan.

The plan aims to ensure that the growth of the province's economy translates into job creation.

"We cannot have growth just for the sake of growth without jobs," said MEC for economic development, environment and tourism Pitsi Moloto.

Moloto, together with the premier's economic adviser Sam Mafadza, head of policy and planning in the premier's office Nepo Kekana and MEC for roads and transport Pinkie Kekana are the architects of the plan.

Moloto said that mining, tourism and agriculture would be the key players in speeding up Limpopo's economic growth.

"We export a lot of fruits from the province. We want to see a significant processing of our agricultural products.

"Our aim is that Limpopo becomes the food basket of the country," Moloto said.

The plan's consultation process started in July last year with stakeholders in the agriculture, tourism and mining sectors.

An economic summit was held in October where the general public and academics made inputs. The plan was then adopted in March by the executive council.

Moloto said the province would see significant growth through new developments from Eskom and Sasol.

He said Limpopo would use the route to Zimbabwe as an economic tool to provide goods so Zimbabweans would not have to come to Gauteng.

Six key programmes were outlined:

l Diversification of Limpopo's industrial base and movement towards services and light manufacturing.

l Mining and mineral beneficiation and downstream industries - development of a specific mining competitive skills programme.

l Development of the provincial construction industry through localisation of procurement.

l Accelerating industrial development in under-developed regions.

l Development of long-range master plans for water, sewers, sanitation, electricity, housing, schools and hospitals.

l Investing in renewable energy and a zero-waste municipal plan.

But the panel of MECs and advisers could not provide a detailed budget of how these plans would be implemented.

Nepo Kekana, head of policy and planning in the premier's office, said Limpopo was targeting 6percent growth by 2014.

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