SA: Zuma pledges 500, 000 jobs

  1. Posted on Wednesday 3 June 2009 - 15:04
    Mernat
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    South Africa president Jacob Zuma has pledged a half a million jobs by December this year during his maiden address to Parliament on Wednesday. He said despite the economy having slid into a serious recession this would not derail government's plans to fulfill the aspiration of the populace.
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    The Africa National Congress (ANC) government plans to spend billions of dollars to overhaul South Africa's infrastructure.

    He said: "Government will ensure that the planned 787 billion rand (98 billion dollar) infrastructure expenditure as provided for in the budget earlier this year is properly planned for and executed."

    Zuma said the funding will cover school building programme, public transport including the bus rapid transit system, housing, water and sanitation. He said fighting poverty remained the "cornerstone" of his government's focus.

    "The economic downturn will affect the pace at which our country is able to address the social and economic challenges it faces. But it will not alter the direction of our development," he said.

    The global economic crisis has taken a toll on the economy, which is officially in recession after a 6.4 percent contraction in the first quarter, he said. Zuma announced a national holiday, Mandela Day, on 18 July each year, prompting cheers from the audience.

    He promised to deliver "the best World Cup ever" when South Africa hosts the football tournament in June next year and also to provide anti-retroviral HIV drugs for 80% of those in need by 2011, as part of efforts to cut in half the rate of new infections of the virus within that period

    "We must act now to minimize the impact of this downturn on those most vulnerable," he added.

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