N West unemployment worries trade group

Cape Town – The Select Committee on Trade and International Relations has voiced satisfaction with its North West visit, but said on Friday that unemployment was still too high.

Chairperson Eddie Makue said the committee noted that the government had adopted a proactive approach in dealing with the pending job losses in the mining industry.

“We note with appreciation the fact that the Bakgatla Traditional Authority chose the high ground, in that it did not look at a stop-gap approach to economic development. They are proactive in ensuring that the community benefits from the wealth of the area on a sustainable basis,” said Makue.

The committee concluded a week-long oversight visit to the province to assess opportunities and shortcomings in the implementation of national programmes of the government and addressing key priorities as articulated in the NDP.

Makue said unemployment was still relatively high and the ACT (agro-processing, culture and tourism) approach could assist in alleviating the challenge of unemployment.

“The committee is satisfied that economic development is on the right track in the district of Bojanala,” he said.