Mtsweni says there was ‘investment boycott’ during Zuma’s tenure

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She said she believes now that Cyril Ramaphosa has taken charge of both government and the ANC all these will change.


Mpumalanga Premier Refilwe Mtsweni has suggested that most of the problems of youth unemployment in the country were due to the “investment boycott” that took place during former President Jacob Zuma’s tenure.

She was answering questions in the Mpumalanga legislature on Tuesday this week.

She told the EFF that the major challenges her government faces is high youth unemployment.

“[It] is a serious cause for concern,” Mtsweni said.

“The economy of this province remains in the hands of the few who were previously advantaged,” she told legislature.

SEE ALSO: Mtsweni speaks youth unemployment

“Economic transformation is too slow and it is common knowledge that the private sector has been reluctant to invest in our economy but we believe that given the recent changes in the leadership of the ruling party and in government, investment boycott by the private sector will be the thing of the past,” she said.

Mtsweni, who is not a PEC member of the ANC, was hand-picked by deputy president DD Mabuza to succeed him as the interim head of the province.

During the Question and Answer session, Mtsweni showered Mabuza with heaps of praise saying, during his tenure as leader of government and ANC, Mabuza was someone passionate about the socio-economic development of the people of Mpumalanga.

“We will remain eternally indebted to his leadership,” Mtsweni told legislature members.

“His understanding of the key role played by good economic and social infrastructure has seen this province building schools, clinics, houses, roads, training colleges, the International Fresh Produce Market that is under construction, hospitals that have been renovated and others that are under construction the list is endless,” she said.

Mtsweni said her government plans to eradicate high youth unemployment by means of skilling the people of the province.

“These include artisanship, the social enterprise development programme that we have started, the nutrition scheme to support emerging women and youth farmers, the bridging finance that we have arranged through Mega and Standard Bank. Other banks like ABSA are also joining us in providing finance to our people”.

(edited by MLM)

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