This Is How The DA Plans To Create Jobs In Their Metros

The Democratic Alliance is kicking it up a gear to ignite economic growth and provide access to jobs in the metros they now govern.

Party leader Mmusi Maimane met with the mayors of the four DA-led metros of Johannesburg, Tshwane, Cape Town and Nelson Mandela Bay on Tuesday.

Each mayor - including Athol Trollip, Solly Msimanga, Patricia De Lille and Herman Mashaba - presented their successes, challenges, and plans going forward to sustain economic growth.

This is what the DA plans to do in each of their metros:

Johannesburg

• The municipality has developed 20 critical "Service Delivery Standards" which relate to planning approvals and service related benchmarks as part of the 'doing business index' in South Africa. These are applied across the board to ensure that those who are investing and creating access to jobs in Johannesburg are attracted by the highest of standards.
• The municipality plans to double the number of SMME hubs from 7 to 14, bringing the total expenditure on SMME hubs to R16 million in the coming financial year. The goal is to have two hubs in each of Johannesburg's seven regions, where young prospective entrepreneurs can receive support, training and mentoring.
• The inner city is set to be a focal point with large scale investment in high-density mixed use accommodation through construction projects that include artisan training programmes and skills development.

Tshwane

• A Property Developer Forum will be established within the next month, with a target of ensuring all development planning approval processes to be automated by June 2018 through the use of a real estate module to improve the turnaround time of building plans.
• An electronic platform for water and electricity connections will be launched in November this year, which will lead to quicker, more reliable service delivery that attracts much needed investment to the city.
• The muncipality will be cutting the cost of doing business by slashing the waiting period for key services.
• It also plans to create 23 000 EPWP work opportunities over the medium term to alleviate the burden of poverty and ensure people can find work opportunities.
• The municipality is also in the process of establishing 4 regional jobs centres will be operational by the end of June 2018.

Cape Town

• The municipality says it has invested over R10 million in the Cape Innovation and Technology Institute (CiTi) and funded CapaCiti, a job-readiness programme that has upskilled more than 900 underprivileged youth from low-income areas.
• R5.5 million has been allocated to external bursaries, R6.7 million for learnerships and R9.9 million for apprenticeships.
• There are plans being implemented to supplement the water supply outside of the dam system, to ensure stability of supply in a time of protracted drought.

Nelson Mandela Bay

• Local leaders plan to establish a dedicated "Jobs Desk" in the mayor's office to facilitate the municipal bursary process, and will expand incentives for business to employ first time job seekers – particularly the youth.
• The municipality also wants to establish a professional Trade and Investment Promotion entity, focusing particularly on attracting new investments in Nelson Mandela Bay.
• There are also plans to revitalize the EPWP programme, in order to focus on skills development that empower beneficiaries to access further employment opportunities.