The DA in eThekwini has written to the Head of Economic Development, Lihle Phewa to request that the municipality prioritize job creation and develop a comprehensive strategy (view letter here).
This as a recent report by the Durban EDGE, that was presented in committee, has revealed that the number of unemployed individuals has risen by 4,000, reaching a staggering 359,000 from the previous quarter. This is 22.1% as of the fourth quarter of 2023.
The current state of unemployment demands urgent attention. Despite the vibrant economic potential of eThekwini, a significant portion of our population remains unemployed. Unskilled workers face immense challenges in securing stable employment. The failure of the city to provide adequate job opportunities exacerbates this crisis, leaving families struggling to make ends meet.
Several key industries contribute to this concerning trend:
1. Agriculture: The agricultural sector, once a potential source of employment, has experienced sluggish growth. While Factors such as climate variability have affected worldwide agricultural areas, the fact is that it is exacerbated in eThekwini by land reform challenges, and limited investment has hindered job creation.
2. Trade: Despite being a bustling port city, eThekwini’s trade sector has struggled to provide sufficient employment opportunities. Global economic shifts have been a trend however eThekwini has failed to diversify to ensure our ports still operate. Instead, our once bustling ports are plagued with supply chain disruptions, damages to rail which hampers transportation and increases competition from other ports, corruption, and poor infrastructure. These have all impacted local trade-related jobs as well as this portion of the industry.
3. Manufacturing: The manufacturing industry, which historically played a vital role in eThekwini’s economy, has faced challenges. While Technological advancements, automation, and shifts in global demand patterns have led to reduced employment prospects for unskilled workers, the main reason is the failure of eThekwini to limit imports and allow industries to grow. Incentives and assistance to industry are limited to cadres and a handful of chosen beneficiaries leaving the private sector to fend for itself. There has been no sustainable assistance to these areas of industry to build job opportunities.
4. Mining: While mining remains an essential sector, it has not translated into significant job growth. Regulatory complexities exacerbated by the myriad of government red tape often making this industry impossible to navigate has ensured that growth is stunted
The DA in KZN has a plan to create 300,000 real jobs and aims to achieve this by investing in infrastructure to support critical economic sectors. Unlike the piecemeal jobs promised by the ANC-EFF government, the DA envisions permanent jobs that can serve as a launch pad for meaningful careers.