Economic recovery, high unemployment – key aspects of vital ANC Free State Economic Summit

As scores of ANC delegates from various municipalities across the Free State are expected to take part in the Economic Summit from today, economic recovery is at the top of the agenda, according to the party in the province.

The conference is expected to get under way from this morning until tomorrow at the Philip Sanders Resort in Bloemfontein.

The Free State Interim Provincial Committee (IPC) said following the effects of the global pandemic, Covid-19, the party took a decision to reflect intensively on the state of the province’s economy in light of the high level of unemployment.

IPC spokesperson Oupa Khoabane, briefed Kasi Voice News that this summit is a necessity to find measures to restructure the economy following the effects of global economic crisis and economic trade wars.

“This summit will look at this key issues to ensure that we revive the economy of the Free State,” said Khoabane.

“The IPC Sub-Committee on Economic Transformation was therefore tasks to develop the provincial
economic recovery and transformation plan, which is in line with that of national,” Khoabane told Kasi Voice News.

“In response to the task of the IPC, the subcommittee will convene Provincial Economic Recovery and Transformation Summit under the theme ‘Building a social compact to accelerate economic recovery and reconstruction’,” he added.

Khoabane said, the summit will be attended by mayors, chamber of mines, institutions of higher learning, strategic entities and NEC members, with various presentations on Economic Transformation and the National Economic Recovery Plan by Human Settlements minister Mamoloko Kubayi and Finance deputy minister David Masondo.

Amongst those in the programme list, MEC for Department of Economic, Small Business Development, Tourism and Environmental Affairs in Free State Makalo Mohale will reflect on the drafted Free State Integrated Local Economic Development and Transformation Bill, while MEC for Agriculture and Rural Development Thembeni Nxangisa will unpack agricultural revolution in the province.