Another promise: Ramaphosa says ANC will prioritise jobs

African National Congress (ANC) President Cyril Ramaphosa has promised that municipalities led by the party will focus on creating jobs for the country’s marginalised while also helping develop the economy.

Ramaphosa presented the party’s manifesto at Church Square in Pretoria on Monday evening, 27 September 2021, where he outlined their plans for local government over the next five years.

The ANC lost Tshwane to the Democratic Alliance (DA) in the last municipal election in 2016 – and is now looking to reclaim the metro – when South Africans head to the polls on 1 November.

For many, this may be just another campaign promise that will not be met – it comes particularly as the latest stats showed that the country’s unemployment rate is sitting at 34.4%. If Ramaphosa is serious about the ANC addressing the current jobs crisis, then the ruling party has a tough task ahead.

According to Bloomberg data, South Africa’s unemployment rate is the worst in the world, ranking highest on the global list of 82 countries.

Ramaphosa ANC ‘tasked’ with creating jobs

ANC President Cyril Ramaphosa says the governing party is uniquely placed to ensure that all three levels of government work together to grow the economy, increase jobs and reduce poverty for local communities.

“It is our intention to ensure that skills development programmes are more closely aligned to the job opportunities and economic development programmes in communities,” he said.

Ramaphosa says the ANC will use the District Development Model to enable municipalities to unlock the economic potential of each district to ensure food security, accelerate skills development, support local industries and create jobs.

“Our central task as a nation is to create jobs and sustainable livelihoods for the 12 million unemployed people in South Africa. Our priority must be to create opportunities for young people as first-time entrants into the jobs market at a faster rate”

ANC President Cyril Ramaphosa

He added that they are committed to making sure that municipal staff are competent, experienced and have the necessary support to execute their duties in service to communities.