Limpopo strides towards job targets

As South Africans are slowly recovering from the global economic downturn, the Limpopo provincial government is making great strides in creating jobs.

“Job creation is one of the priorities that we have set for ourselves as government. We are working full throttle to translate our commitment to make 2011 a year of job creation through meaningful economic transformation and inclusive growth into reality,” said Limpopo Premier Cassel Mathale.

He said the province was committed to fight poverty and unemployment to improve the livelihoods of its people.

Permanent jobs

In the first quarter of the current financial year, the provincial government created over 62 400 permanent jobs. This was done in response to the commitment made earlier this year by provincial government to create more than 166 100 jobs in the public sector.

The Office of the Premier created 143 jobs; Public Works 581, Agriculture 1 536; Sport, Arts and Culture 15, Education 17 890; Local Government and Housing 939; Treasury 17; Safety, Security and Liaison 2; Roads and Transport 19 978; Health 8 860 and Social Development 2 566 jobs.

Temporary jobs

The Extended Public Works (EPWP) sector in Limpopo has created over 17 800 temporary jobs during the period under review.

The social sector has created 3 303 jobs; infrastructure 9 337; environment 307; while the non-state sector has created 4 927 jobs through the EPWP programme.