Date: 28/08/2004
Source: Eastern Cape Provincial Government
Title: S Kwelita: 14th Amity Conference of Overseas Chinese in Africa


SPEECH BY MEC FOR ROADS AND PUBLIC WORKS, SAM KWELITA TO THE 14TH AMITY CONFERENCE OF OVERSEAS CHINESE IN AFRICA, East London, 28 August 2004

Leaders of the Eastern Cape Taiwanese Chambers of Commerce
Business Leaders in general
Community Leaders in various capacities
Fellow South Africans

I wish to express my personal appreciation for being invited to this occasion because our Province and the entire South Africa is faced with increasing rates of unemployment. Business growth and job creation are issues very close to my heart. In our country we face daily the effects of an economy that is shedding jobs at a high cost to both families and the national economy. When one talks of efforts to create jobs, it immediately reminds me that in our recent manifesto as the ANC, we highlighted the issue of job creation so as to improve the lives of our people for the better.

We recognise as the government that government alone cannot address this matter of job creation, but all stakeholders need to be on board including business both big and small. The issue of business growth and job creation should not only be a talk show but results must be seen to materialise for both profit acquisition and salaries for the workers.

Let me hasten Mr. Chairperson to say we are appreciative of the Taiwanese Business Community for its long-standing commitment to invest in our country. We continue to need this type of co-operation as the labour market continues to grow while job opportunities continue to shrink. This phenomenon Mr Chairperson, signals shortcoming in our economy that its growth is limited and cannot respond to the challenges of the day.

Government is trying its best to create investments into the local economy, for example the Ngqurha Deep port project, the urban renewal programme and the various economic activities of our country but we lack in Foreign Direct Investment.

Mr. Chairperson, with the unemployment rate of more than 42% in our Province, the Taiwanese Business Community's intention to create jobs in this economically depressed province must be loaded. We may have to jointly as government and Business Community, plot and plan ways and means to encourage projects, areas of mutual concern, areas which can unlock bottlenecks that can occur on both sides so as to widen investment in areas like Umtata, Butterworth and Dimbaza where Taiwanese factories used to be in high numbers than is the case today. Our opposition continues to attack us for chasing away Taiwanese investments in these places I have just mentioned. I would love to ask them for complementary accolades once your investments have returned to our country.

We wish a speedy realisation of your efforts to increase your business and investments in our economy.

Thank you very much.

Issued by: Department of Roads and Public Works, Eastern Cape Provincial Government
28 August 2004
Source: Eastern Provincial Government (http://www.ecprov.gov.za)