E Cape next growth area of SA economy - committee

Cape Town – Government should make the Eastern Cape the next area of growth for South Africa’s economy, according to the chairperson of the Select Committee on Trade and International Relations Eddie Makue.

Makue said the province’s booming car manufacturing sector, Coega development on the Port of Ngqura and the long coastline all ought to be injected with the necessary resources and support from the national government in order to maximise economic benefits.

READ: Coega looking at airport, aeronautics in PE

“The Eastern Cape's economy, and all the opportunities it presents, is critical to growing the country’s gross domestic product, but also for contributing to the country’s job creation objectives and improvement of skills," said Makue in a statement on Sunday.

He regards the province’s biggest metro - the Nelson Mandela Bay Metro - as the next area of growth without a doubt.

The committee will, together with the Committee on Economic Development, conduct a week-long oversight visit to monitor whether the Nelson Mandela Bay Metro’s economic growth opportunities are adequately exploited.

READ: Ocean can contribute R177bn to GDP - Zuma

The Committees will visit various projects, including Coega, the Volkswagen manufacturing plant in Uitenhage and the Aspen plant.

“If one looks at the objectives of Operation Phakisa - the programme meant to exploit potential sea resources to the benefit of South Africans - and the National Development Plan, it is clear the country ought to be looking to the Eastern Cape,” said Makue.

"Although the committees acknowledged that work is being done in the Eastern Cape, the question is how do all spheres of government take it to the next level with coordinated plans?"

ALSO READ: Act on corruption in Eastern Cape - SACP