ANC president Cyril Ramaphosa has vowed to be hands-on in assisting the Northern Cape in finding solutions in fighting high levels of unemployment and in unlocking avenues for economic growth.
Taking off on a charm offensive with a keynote address sprinkled with Afrikaans, Setswana and isiXhosa, Ramaphosa did not only give his insights into the provincial economy but also hope to the thousands of the party’s supporters that descended on the Galeshewe Stadium in Kimberley for the provincial Manifesto Launch and 107 anniversary celebration.
“During our recent working visit to India, we mobilised for investments to come to South Africa. We met investors who said they wanted to come to and invest in the Northern Cape, because there are mineral resources here that should be exploited for the benefit of all our people,” said Ramaphosa.
In delving further into his investment drive talk, Ramaphosa drew attention to the South Africa Investment Conference which he spearheaded last year. It was at the big business assembly where mining giant Vedanta Resources Plc pledged an investment worth R21.4 billion towards the construction of a zinc smelter-refinery at Aggeneys in Namaqualand.
The Vedanta venture is believed to be South Africa’s largest mining project currently in execution. It is expected to spark 4000 construction and 1400 permanent jobs once in operation.
With this province being sun-drenched and “South Africa’s Solar King” in the words of Energy Minister Jeff Radebe, the endorsement of renewable energy by Ramaphosa was emphatic.
“Renewable energy resources should be for the benefit of the people of the Northern Cape,” he stated, albeit making no mention of province’s desire for communities to be granted a better ownership stake.
However, he did give solace in having indicated that he would be assisting this province in identifying job creation and economic growth “initiatives.”
On the land question: “Our people have been excluded from economic opportunity and dispossessed of the land. We are going to make sure that the land that was taken away from our forebears is returned to the people of the Northern Cape,” he said, being aware of the province’s mainstay food security contribution to South Africa and its contribution to the national kitty.
On crime and the proliferation of drugs, Ramaphosa declared to step up the fight in making streets, homes, schools and our borders safe and secured. “Those who are involved in drugs and gangsterism must know, we are coming for you,” he warned.
Earlier and before sunrise on Saturday, Ramaphosa embarked on a charm offensive, joining hordes of Kimberley athletes at the start-off point of the 10 kilometre race – Meerkat Marathon. Thereafter, it was a working breakfast with leaders and staffers of the ANC. On Friday evening upon his arrival, he addressed a fundraising Gala Dinner of the ANC at the Mittah Seperepere Convention Centre.
By Thabo Mothibi on February 2, 2019
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Thabo Mothibi is a former broadcast journalist (TV and Radio) – with specialist reporting experience; SABC Political/Parliamentary and TRC Teams over a period of five years (1995 to 2000).
One key foreign assignment - is the 11-nation African Connection Rally – overland journey from Africa’s northern-most pole in the coastal Tunisian city of Bizerte to the southern-most pole in South Africa’s Cape Agulhas. From the journalistic years, Thabo then delved into Government media liaison and serving two former Ministers and three MECs. He became the Northern Cape Provincial Government’s first department based Communications Director at Department of Agriculture, Land Reform and Rural Development - 2008-2010 – where he also served as Head of Ministry from 2003 – 2008.
As a former anti-apartheid activist, his political background and professional training aided him in spearheading the Northern Cape ANC’s 2004 National Elections media and publicity campaign and that of the 2006 Local Government Elections.
Whilst based in Waterkloof in Pretoria -2010 to end 2011, he consulted for Manstrat Agricultural Intelligence, then returned to the Northern Cape in 2012 to date, to consult independently and pursue other entrepreneurial interests in media and communications through KwaVuko Communications and Marketing.
Thabo Mothibi obtained his NQF7 through Wits University’s Graduate School of Public and Development Management (P&DM) in Johannesburg, a Unilever Mandela Rhodes Academy for Marketing and Communications Academy (UMRA). The goal of the NQF7 programme was to educate and train public and private sector professional communicators and marketers in government communications..
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