North Western region set to create 20 000 Jobs

The North West administration has allocated a big amount of R176 million and is all set to create 20,000 jobs in order to reduce the unemployment and poverty in the nation to some extent.

According to the provincial government, the North West is among the poorest provinces in the country, having an unemployment rate of 24.7% along with the poverty level of 46%. The government’s key priority programmes includes service delivery, poverty relief, and job creation.

Paul Sebegoe, the Finance MEC said a few words while putting off the budget before the legislature on Tuesday. He said that the main budget is with some adjustments of additional R1.8 million, which increases the provincial budget from R28.5 billion to R30 billion.

The main intention of the 2013 Adjustment Budget was mainly to “Increase the efficiency within the government and obtain a better value for money”.

“We highly appreciate this programme where government is undergoing various programmes due to which the graduate youths are getting practical workplace experience. However there is huge employment demand still existing in the unskilled and semi-skilled sector of the society.”

Sebegoe also said that “It is within the ongoing circumstances that the provincial government is committed to create job opportunities in the region to point out some of the immediate challenges we are facing.” The employment opportunities will be distributed equally among all the four districts of the province.   

Ngaka Modiri Molema will get 5 652 new jobs, Bojanala 5098 jobs, Dr Ruth Segomotsi Mompati 4 459 jobs while 4 791 new jobs for the Dr Kenneth Kaunda district. This job project is expected to start from 1st December 2013 with an average stipend of R2200/month.

Different projects are already identified and assigned to specific department and budget is also allocated. The Department of Public Works, Roads and Transport are also been given a large amount of R105.5 million and are expected to create around 12,000 employment opportunities.

The department will play a lead role in observing and implementation of this projects along with expanding the public works programme principles. Some of the important projects would include paving works, culvert cleaning, contractor development, landscaping and horticulture, erection and maintenance of road signage and markings, pothole patching and other minor road works.

Sebegoe further added that "Economic Development, Environment, Conservation and Tourism has been allocated R26.330 million to create 2992 jobs by maintaining parks, alien invasive plant control specially in the game reserves, industrialisation projects, modification of the Taung Tusk and the 'keep North West clean projects."

Also the projects under Department of Sports, Arts and Culture, Education and Training, Social Development, Agriculture and Rural Development are also given funds to create jobs and hire unemployed people.