Nine-Point Plan creating a better life for South Africans

Thursday, September 7, 2017

Deputy President Cyril Ramaphosa says government’s Nine-Point Plan has been stimulating economic activity since the intervention was announced by President Jacob Zuma three years ago.

The Deputy President was answering questions in the National Assembly on Wednesday.

“In 2015 President Zuma announced the reprioritisation of government interventions to support economic growth through the Nine-Point Plan.

“In 2017, our implementation of the Nine-Point Plan continues and it continues to create a better life and indeed a better economy for our country,” he said.

Listing some of the results from the intervention, the Deputy President said in the course of revitalising the agriculture and agro-processing value chain, net exports of agricultural raw products have gone up by an average by 14.6% since 2012.

He said 23 Agri-parks are currently being developed and will be completed by 2019.

“Through the implementation of the Industrial Policy Action Plan, four industrial parks have been launched in South Africa.

“We continue to see expansion in the auto sectors of our economy with auto making companies investing billions and billions of rands.

“In May of this year, Beijing AutoWorks, together with the Industrial Development Corporation, launched the expansion of the New Era Facility in Springs, Gauteng.

“The investment into this expansion is estimated at R250 million and will create 100 new jobs,” he said.

He said the MAN manufacturing and assembly plant in Olifantsfontein in Gauteng is now producing buses for Tshwane’s BRT services with 80% local content.

“First Auto Works (FAW) invested R600 million in a truck assembly facility at Coega in the Eastern Cape,” he said.

The Deputy President said as part of the intervention of the Nine-Point Plan several sectors were showing signs of growth.

The clothing and textile industry’s turnaround has resulted in 70 000 jobs being saved with an estimated 9550 jobs created and 28 new companies being established.

“The Black Industrialist Programme has supported 46 projects and has attracted R3.7 billion of private sector investment and this has created almost 20 000 jobs.

“To support localisation, 21 products and sectors have been designated for local production. This includes products such as bus bodies, clothing, textile, leather, footwear, school furniture, office furniture, steel power pylons and canned or processed vegetables,” he said.

Government’s interventions to support investment and growth through the Nine -Point Plan includes unlocking the potential of SMMEs, co-ops and rural and township enterprises by implementing the 30% set aside policy that was adopted by this government.

“The One Stop Shop launched in 2016 is now fully operational. President Zuma will on the 8th of September launch the first Invest South Africa One Stop Shop in Cape Town. This facility aims to provide strategic guidance, reduce regulatory inefficiencies and reduce red tape for all investors looking to invest in the Western Cape.

“Now these are some of the problems that some of the members raised here and this is a clear demonstration that we have heard you and we have also heard our people and the investing community and these problems are now being resolved.”

He said the One Stop Shop aims to improve the business environment of investment in the local economy.

“Our work at Nedlac of reducing workplace conflict has resulted in the agreement that I always talk about here and we are constantly planting seeds of future growth and we are extremely encouraged by the green shoots that we see in the various sectors of our economy.

“Our greatest investment is not cash. Our greatest investment is confidence. We are seeking to engender confidence in this country and in this economy and this is what this government is busy with on a daily basis and if we can remain focussed on the progress we are making daily in our economy, this will give us the inspiration to create the South Africa that all of us desire.”

He added that the key issue is to remain focussed and have confidence in our own country. - SAnews.gov.za