By Thys Khiba
Bloemfontein – The Board of Smart Start Up Foundation NPC has congratulated the newly appointed Free State African National Congress (ANC) Interim Provincial Committee (IPC) structure.
“The Board of Smart Start Up Foundation NPC has noted political developments in the province aimed at stabilizing both the ruling party and governance in the Free State by the ruling party’s National Executive Committee,” said Smart Start Up Foundation NPC Spokesperson, Yanga Makaluza.
The foundation raised concerns about the high rates of unemployment in the province. This follows the recent announcement by the Stats SA regarding the labour force survey for the first quarter of 2021 which indicates that Free State recorded the largest decreases of employment in the country at 42 000.
In a working population (people aged between 15-64 years) of the Free State’s population, 703 000 are employed whilst 388 000 are unemployed. Therefore this means that 872 000 remain economically inactive and 104 000 disgruntled job seekers.
Smart Start Up Foundation NPC says that the province is still struggling with its economic blue print (in a form of Provincial Economic Development Strategy). The foundation says that the Free State province is still relying on the old Free State Growth and Development Strategy (FSGDS), which does not have a specific focus on the economy alone, but on various issues like education and other social issues.
“Hence, it is our strong view that Free State deserves a fast-forward-thinking business leadership partnership with government and all other stakeholders in order to meet the current and future economic demands of the province while at the same time pushing for transformation of the economy that is currently stuck and lacking on inclusive growth,” said Makaluza.
Makaluza says they are willing to work with the IPC structure to advance ‘the real economic agenda’ that will place Free State as one of the competitive economies in the country.
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