Unemployment expected to top agenda in premier’s address

Opposition parties and the business fraternity in the Eastern Cape expectpremier Oscar Mabuyaneto prioritise theprovince’s high unemployment rateduring Thursday’s state of the province address. The event will also serve as the official opening of the provincial legislature. Political parties, the business fraternity and other stakeholders voiced their expectations.

Black Business Forum chair Luthando Bara said they expected this year’s address to move beyond broad commitments and speak directly to the economic realities facing businesses and communities across the Eastern Cape. He said at the centre of their expectations was a focused plan for economic growth that was measurable, practical and anchored in sectors where the province had real competitive advantages. “The Eastern Cape cannot continue to rely on potential alone.

“We need a deliberate programme to stimulate investment, expand local production, and unlock value in agriculture, manufacturing, tourism, oceans economy initiatives and township enterprise. “Job creation must be treated as the primary test of policy success,” Bara said. “With unemployment still devastating families and communities, the province must prioritise initiatives that support labour-absorbing industries, scale public employment programmes into pathways for entrepreneurship, and ensure that government procurement actively supports local businesses rather than large external suppliers.” The deteriorating state of infrastructure in the province remained a critical concern for business. “Roads, water systems, electricity reliability, industrial parks and logistics networks are the backbone of economic activity,” he said.