MyPE

Community Business Directory, Event Listings, News and Views from Gqeberha, Nelson Mandela Bay

The Failing BCM Economy

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Dear MyPE

Since 1994 there has been little to no investment in small businesses and the local Buffalo City Metro economy, by the failing African National Congress government.

On 17 January 2019, I visited a number of small businesses at the Zwelitsha Taxi Rank in King William’s Town and at the Highway Taxi Rank in Mdantsane.

I was joined by Kevin Mileham, EC Premier Campaign Spokesperson for Basic Services, Mawethu Kosani, EC Premier Campaign Spokesperson for Youth, as well as two Buffalo City Metro Councillors, Dharmesh Dhaya and Terence Fritz.

At both venues people complained that, over the last 15 years, little to no investment was made to upgrade the facilities or even maintain the current basic services provided to street vendors and informal traders. This includes services such as roads, water, sanitation and electricity.

Our country desperately needs economic growth and entrepreneurial spirit if we are to overcome the challenges of poverty and unemployment. To make this a reality, government has a duty to ensure that there is an environment conducive to economic development.

The people of Zwelitsha and Mdantsane have been let down by the failing ANC government. It is unacceptable that these hard working individuals, who are driven to succeed in the face of adversity, receive so little support from their government.

There is an urgent need in Buffalo City to clean up the areas where informal traders are operating. They must be provided with shelters to protect them and their goods from inclement weather, and must have access to basic services such as water, sanitation and electricity.

In this way more consumers will be attracted to support informal traders leading to growth and jobs.

Unlike the ANC, the DA has a proven track record of growing the economy, attracting investment, clean governance and most important of job creation that all South Africans can access. Where we govern in the Western Cape, the unemployment rate is the lowest in the country and last year the province created 75% of all jobs in the entire country.

The DA has a plan to create an environment in which businesses want to invest and in which sustainable jobs are created. And once these jobs are created, only a DA government will guarantee fair access to real and long-term jobs, fight corruption and bring the change that will build One South Africa for All.

Regards

Nqaba Bhanga
DA EC Premier Candidate

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This author is a 'catch-all' for occasional articles and letters written to MyPE. The Author of each article can be found in the signature at the bottom of each individual article.