Wednesday, January 22, 2014

‘Institutional reform’ critical in denting SA unemployment – economist

No fear No Favour No Corruption in the ANC tolerated......




NEWS - PUBLISHED 21 JANUARY 2014










While the economic recession of 2008 exacerbated the issue of “high and sticky” unemployment in South Africa, Plus Economics Advisory CEO Charlotte du Toit asserts that the structural drivers of the country’s high unemployment rate existed prior to the economic downturn, which simply exposed these structural inadequacies.
This position was in sharp contrasted to opposing economic opinion, which suggested that the country’s level unemployment – currently at 24.7% – was cyclical in nature.
“Structural issues that caused job losses and low levels of employment were issues before the recession… and, as a result, we must accept that by fuelling the economy and advancing economic growth, we’re not denting unemployment because of its structural nature.
“Local economic growth doesn’t translate into employment gains, which is the country’s Achilles heel,” Du Toit said at the launch of a United Nations report on the World Economic Situation and Prospects 2014 on Tuesday.
The economist and report co-author added that the challenge remained not in targeting unemployment directly through intensive job-creation initiatives, but rather in addressing the impediments to job creation within the economy itself.
Central to achieving this outcome, she averred, was the implementation of structural reforms through institutional reform.
“The structural nature of the impediments [to job creation] are institutional, therefore, institutional reform is required. Capacity [within government] is an issue and we need to get educated, trained, experienced individuals to start sharing their knowledge. South Africa doesn’t have a fuelling problem, but rather an engine-capacity issue,” Du Toit said.
She further held that if extensive educational training and skills programmes did not mobilise individuals to make a contribution to economic output and, by so doing, earn a living, these efforts were simply an additional cost to society.
“It's like kicking the can further down the road. Government [needs to] focus on interim measures to not just create token jobs but assist an individual in actually making a contribution.
“This will require an effort to remove the distorted perception that an education means having a certificate, rather than a skills set,” Du Toit maintained.
In response to a question regarding the ruling African National Congress’s ambition to create six-million jobs over the next five years, she held that while the aim was achievable, it would not be realised in five years.
“We have to start doing the right things and not just saying the right things. [This will involve setting] firm, evidence-based targets [which are measurable], so that we don’t talk willy-nilly about six-million jobs,” Du Toit stated.

NEWS Edited by : Tracy Hancock


DA REPRIMANDED FOR NOT BEING INVITED TO SABOTAGED WATER PURIFICATION PLANT IN MOTHOTLUNG.....


Mothotlung Crisis: What Edna Molewa didn’t want you to see

Lindiwe Mazibuko MP
Parliamentary Leader of the Democratic Alliance

Yesterday, as part of my visit to Mothotlung in the North West province, I conducted an oversight visit to the Water Purification Plant responsible for providing water to the surrounding community.

As a result of the breakdown of infrastructure linked to corruption and poor management, the surrounding communities - including Mothotlung, Damonsville and other parts of the Madibeng Municipality - have had only intermittent access to water over the last two years.

Last week, the matter escalated into a national crisis when four South Africans were killed by police following a community service delivery protest for access to water.

During the DA delegation's visit to the plant - which included DA North West Provincial Leader, Chris Hattingh MPL and DA North West Provincial Chairperson, Winston Rabotapi MP - Chris Hattingh received a call from the Minister of Water and Environmental Affairs, Edna Molewa, advising us to stay away from the plant and not to conduct an oversight visit there.

The DA has now subsequently received correspondence --> http://bit.ly/LABGBK from the Minister informing us that we do not have “authorisation” to visit and view the plant.

Furthermore, the Mayor of the Madibeng Municipality, Poppy Magongwa, arrived at the plant during our visit, and informed us that we were not “invited”.

Following our departure from the plant, having finished our oversight visit, I have been reliably informed by DA members in the community that the water plant has been subsequently locked up and that it is no longer possible to access it.

It is clear that the Municipality and the Minister are deeply concerned about what South Africans might find at that plant, and are therefore determined to prevent legitimate oversight of the problems which have underpinned this crisis.

After inspecting the plant, I now understand why this is the case:

Only one of the three pumps which provide water to Mothotlung is operational. The other two pumps are not being used, with the larger, main pump missing entirely. (Picture 1 --> http://bit.ly/1hIJc8V) and (Picture 2 -->http://bit.ly/1cQ8e0C)

I also noticed that on the Brits line, which feeds through the Brits reservoir, only 2 of the 5 pumps are working. Two are non-functional and the other has been stripped.

This means that Mothotlung and surrounding communities remain on the brink of a much larger water delivery breakdown, which, if not urgently resolved, could result in a very serious human rights crisis.

If the remaining Mothotlung pump suffers any breakdown or needs to be stopped for maintenance, water will stop running in the town's taps again.

The DA will not stand by while this happens. This is not the time for the Minister to shut down transparency and accountability. She must come clean and reveal exactly what is happening at the Water Purification Plant and when the remaining pumps will come back online.

The DA will respond to the Minister’s letter and request this information as a matter of urgency. We will also clarify in no uncertain terms the fact that we will continue to pursue regular oversight visits to the plant until such time as this crisis is resolved.

This is our constitutional responsibility as public representatives and as the official opposition. And we owe it to the families and loved ones of those who were killed protesting for access to their most basic constitutional rights.

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Pictured: The empty space where a large pump that is supposed to provide water to Mothotlung should sit.




BREAKING POINT -  DA NEWS





COMMENTS BY SONNY



IS THIS HOW THE ANC WANTS TO GOVERN SOUTH AFRICA - FOREVER?

THE PEOPLE OF SOUTH AFRICA WILL NOT TOLERATE THIS DISASTER AND WASTE OF OUR ECONOMY, YOUTH,

EDUCATION AND OUR NATION!

THE DA NEEDS AN INVITATION FROM THE ANC TO INSPECT A SERVICE DELIVERY PLANT?

FOR SABOTAGE THESE CORRUPT OFFICIALS WILL RECEIVE A "GOLDEN HANDSHAKE" for their 'Achievements" and be redeployed to another field of expertise!!
IS THIS IS ANYTHING TO BE PROUD OF, THEN, THE ANC MUST BE BOOTED N.O.W.

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