Western Cape pilot projects first to put NDP to the test

THE Western Cape is the first province to test the National Development Plan (NDP) aimed at eliminating poverty and reducing inequality by 2030, a senior official in the Presidency has said.

National Planning Commission chief of staff Dumisa Jele said the province “is the first to show a degree of readiness” to launch its pilot projects.

The NDP was created under the leadership of Planning Minister Trevor Manuel. It aims to grow the economy and bridge the gap between rich and poor in the next 17 years.

Premier Helen Zille said in her State of the Province address on Friday that her administration was ready to pilot three projects for the national government. Her government was adding a fourth.

These projects are: the reduction of red tape; the creation of an economic development partnership to facilitate growth and jobs; and an afterschool programme to keep young people busy through “productive activities”.

Zille’s fourth project would help young people to find jobs or create businesses.

The premier said all these initiatives were rooted in the understanding that a government was not an agency for jobcreation and least of all for dispensing political patronage.

“When it comes to the crucial task of job-creation, the state must establish an enabling environment that attracts investors who start businesses that create jobs.”

Zille said the government should rather enable business to grow, create good infrastructure, and educate and do skills training. She said her government has removed administrative bottlenecks, invested millions of rand in skills development, and created thousands of job opportunities.

She said the Development Bank of South Africa had granted R64 million to the Western Cape for this purpose.

“This will support the creation of 1 000 new work opportunities for young people each year over three years. That is 3 000 in all,” Zille said.

She promised that 70 percent of provincial government buildings, rural libraries and schools would be connected to broadband by the end of next year, creating more opportunities.

Zille’s spokesman, Zak Mbhele, said yesterday the three projects were being implemented.

The findings would be shared with the national government.

The leader of the opposition, Lynne Brown of the ANC, said it was shocking and disappointing that Zille wasn’t more responsive to issues causing distress to the people of the province.