"We must leverage to levels untried before our latent potential to be another economic powerhouse by maximising our agricultural production, developing our tourist appeal, exploring our mineral-rich landscape, and diversifying and increasing our manufacturing capacity," she said in a speech prepared for delivery at the ceremony.
Molewa took over from Popo Molefe who became ineligible to stay on as premier after serving two terms.
She said the province's geographic location offered an "opportunity to benefit from the Pan-African synergies envisaged by NEPAD (New Partnership for Africa's Development) and represented by the Platinum Highway."
She also committed the government to: "achieve new advances in the effort to create new jobs, reduce poverty and limit unemployment by exploiting the natural wealth, flora, fauna and beauty of our province."
Molewa said: "It is against the background of economic development and opportunity that we shall finally win our battle against the despondence of the youth, crime, HIV/Aids, and physical and psychological violence against women, development of women, the youth, people with disabilities and the elderly."
She also said the province would strive to root out corruption, saying: "Let us finally transcend the poor morality that our historical condition of so-called independence promoted in making it almost impossible for honest men and women to prosper."
Molewa said she would elaborate how she intended to tackle the socio-economic challenges in the province in her maiden state of the province address on May 28. - Sapa
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