KZN to assist in creating 11m jobs by 2030

Delivering his State of the Province Address in Pietermaritzburg on Thursday, 28 February 2013, Mkhize said the province should take a lead in assisting government to create jobs and contribute to economic growth.

"As a province we therefore accept that for the country to create 11 million new jobs by 2030, KwaZulu-Natal will have to create 2.1 million jobs. To achieve this, we have to ensure that the KwaZulu-Natal economy grows at an average of at least 4% per annum between now and 2030."

The Premier said the province had a responsibility of building its own economy and contributing towards the growth of the country's economy.

"While South Africa as a country faces the challenge of how to position itself in the context of shifting global economic power, KwaZulu-Natal has a responsibility to build its own economy and make its contribution in growing our national economy."

Although South Africa was affected by the global economic downturn, the country's economy has remained resilient because of its own strengths.

"KwaZulu-Natal has been affected by these global and national trends, and in the third quarter the growth was reduced from 2.1 percent to 1.8 percent," explained Premier Mkhize.