Agriculture, Economic Development and Tourism
How many (a) of the six million “real jobs” promised by the Democratic Alliance in their 2014 election manifesto will be created in the Western Cape and (b) jobs will be created in each sector of the provincial economy by 2019?
(a) As is the case with all election manifestos, the DA’s election manifesto was based on the party being elected to govern nationally.
While we have made major inroads into the ANC’s majority, growing more and more each election, the latter still controls the country. This explains why, nationally, we continue to shed jobs and receive downgraded ratings from international ratings agencies. Based on voting trends, it is just a matter of time before the DA runs the country and can implement its manifesto.
Where we do govern, such as in the Western Cape, we are putting policies in place which are creating an environment for growth and job creation. This is demonstrated by the fact that the DA-run Western Cape has the lowest broad unemployment rate in the country.
Stats SA’s analysis of the 2013 employment figures revealed that 141 000 news jobs were created in South Africa as at the end of 2013. Of these, 98 000 jobs were created in the Western Cape and 43 000 in the eight ANC-controlled provinces. Since the end of 2012 South Africa’s unemployed population grew by 121 000, while the Western Cape’s unemployed population has shrunk by 48 000.
Mr Dugmore worked in Trevor Manuel’s office when the National Development Plan was developed. Perhaps if he could convince his party to implement the NDP nationally, we would see the Western Cape’s economic success replicated in the rest of the country.
(b) Not applicable – see above
