Matjhabeng on a massive job creation drive after securing R150m investment

As Matjhabeng municipality’s mayor Thanduxolo Khalipa is working tirelessly to tackle the impediments to growing municipality’s struggling economy, the mayor has assured residents his pivotal task is to bring investors to reinvigorate the bankrupt Matjhabeng.

With this said, Khalipa has committed to creating over 200 jobs for the community of Matjhabeng for the upcoming construction project set to kick in October this year in Welkom.

He said Matjhabeng’s socio-economic recovery efforts, would be driven by positioning the municipality as an investment destination of choice for both domestic and foreign investors.  

According to the mayor, the municipality received a whooping R150 million investment from an investor based in Johannesburg, Gauteng.

Matjhabeng’s media liaison office Thokozile Nkuna, said this enormous project will target marginalised youth and women, local sub-contractors and historically disadvantaged groups.

“There is an investment of a shopping complex that is scheduled to be open at the open veld next to Welkom Magistrate Court, and this will see over 200 people across Matjhabeng deployed in this massive project,” Nkuna revealed to Kasi Voice News.

Free State’s unemployment rate is one of the highest in the country, with a population of over 2.9 million people, 1.9 million people rely on social grants, while it is only 720 000 who are employed.

According to Stats SA, data showed that majority of people in the province have given up hope of employment and have stopped looking for jobs.

The current situation in the province is unsustainable, and the provincial government and municipalities will have to prioritise spending on creating an environment that is conducive to investment and job creation.