EDITOR – The Democratic Alliance in eThekwini is incredibly concerned about reports submitted to the Economic Development Committee that indicate that employment is rising steadily in the City.
A report on employment in the third quarter of 2016 prepared by the Municipality's Economic Development and Investment Promotion Unit has indicated that unemployment has risen by 4.5 per cent. The expanded unemployment rate now sits at 28.4 per cent. This is disproportionate to the national average of 1.6 per cent.
A further report to the Committee, furnished by Deloitte, indicates that 28 per cent of respondents surveyed are considering moving their business operations out of Durban. The report lists poor municipal management and service delivery, a general lack of political stability and leadership, a deteriorating and incomplete infrastructure, unnecessary red tape and high levels of corruption as the main disincentives to investment and growth.
The report was indicative of what the DA has been saying for some time – that poor financial management and political leadership is hurting the City's poorest and most vulnerable citizens. It is indisputable that these factors, meaning that a number of businesses plan to leave eThekwini, that continue to contribute to the growing unemployment rate in this city. We need to get the basics right, manage public money properly, and look after our infrastructure. The fact that we have failed to obtain a clean audit also indicates that we are not making progress in improving this situation.
The Deloitte report also identifies tourism and transport as logistics as key industries for growth.
This City's leadership needs a strong commitment to governing better, exercising sound financial management and improving service delivery to arrest this decline. The DA will continue to hold them to account to improve the city's employment statistics. Improving this should be at the very core of the City's agenda.
Nicole Graham
DA Deputy Leader – eThekwini
