Joint venture boosts rural jobs
Publish date: 22 November 2017
Issue Number: 214
Diary: Legalbrief Workplace
Category: Corruption
A company set up by traditional leaders and the private sector aims to give people in rural areas the opportunity to participate in SA's economy, reports The Times. The United Royal Kingship Holdings (URKH) is wholly owned by the seven official royal kingdoms and was created after discussions between the ANC‚ government and traditional leaders. ‘This has resulted in a situation where the traditional leaders and the private sector have created what you call United Royal Kingships Holdings company and foundation. These together are institutions to ensure inclusivity of rural people in the mainstream economy‚’ said ANC treasurer general Zweli Mkhize. ‘This‚ for us‚ is where we've gone beyond discussing radical economic transformation‚ but we are saying major corporates must find models which will be able to transfer some of the wealth to some rural communities and create platforms for participation of the rural communities in the mainstream economy.’ The report says the strategy focuses on financial services‚ mineral resources and beneficiation‚ fuel retailing‚ agriculture and agro-processing‚ health services‚ tourism‚ property‚ infrastructure services and media.
Eskom, meanwhile, plans to create 10 000 jobs in Mpumalanga over the next three years as part of its development initiative. ‘As Eskom, we believe it is important to contribute to improving the lives of the communities in which we operate. We will be engaging the community in an effort to inform them on how they can participate in these opportunities,’ Eskom interim group CEO Sean Maritz said. The temporary and permanent jobs that will be created will be available in various trades within the energy sector and will largely include infrastructure maintenance and development projects in the region. The power utility has identified local business growth and development opportunities at all of its sites in the province that will enable the implementation of its Mpumalanga development strategy in the short term.
