Xasa sees investment in infrastructure as way to go

MUNICIPALITIES should turn their focus away from job-creation programmes to attracting investment in infrastructure, said cooperative governance and traditional affairs (Cogta) MEC Fikile Xasa yesterday.

Xasa was giving the keynote address on the first day of the threeday local economic development (LED) summit at the East London ICC.

He said more investment in infrastructure would equate to more business opportunities and jobs.

He said if the government did invest more money in infrastructure development, the face of the Eastern Cape province would change.

Xasa said his comments came at a time when government was not doing enough to deal with finding jobs for unemployed young people.

“Invest in infrastructure and create a conducive environment for business to thrive. Given the constitutional imperatives of municipalities facilitating LED, municipalities have a facilitating role in providing an enabling environment for investment through the provision of infrastructure and quality services rather than programmes for jobcreation,” he said.

Xasa said improving the delivery of infrastructure services to communities was an important aspect of the LED.

“If we could, we should channel all government money into infrastructure development so we can change the face of this province.”

Xasa said the government would invest in clinics, hospitals, schools and roads. “To achieve sustainable LED, municipalities must improve their capacity,” Xasa said.

The summit was also attended by amaXhosa King Zwelonke Sigcawu, who lambasted the government for its lack of respect for traditional leadership. He was scathing of government, saying people had worked hard and had enough to eat before the democratic government took over the running of the country.

“People had food in abundance because they worked before this government took over.”

He blamed the lack of cooperation between the state and traditional leaders on the government’s ill-discipline, saying traditional leaders wanted to cooperate and get development going.

Cogta acting head of department Monwabisi Baza said the national economy was not growing, while demands increased.

“We have infrastructure development backlogs and at the same time we have to maintain infrastructure.”