THE Coega Development Corporation (CDC) has welcomed the recent news from Statistics South Africa that jobs numbers have grown over the past quarter.
According to the Quarterly Employment Statistics report, jobs increased from 9.78 million in December 2017 to 9.83 million in March 2018. These jobs have come largely from the community services, construction, manufacturing and business services sectors.
“This translates into 56 000 more people having been able to put bread on their tables as a result of the various sectors that have contributed towards this feat,” said Ayanda Vilakazi, CDC Unit Head: Marketing, Brand and Communications.
“What is even more impressive is that, overall employment increased by 74 000 or 0.8% between March 2017 and March 2018.”
The announcement by Stats SA follows shortly after the CDC marked a significant milestone with over 100 000 jobs created at the Coega project.
“It gives us great pleasure to have realised this milestone. Equally, it serves as a motivator for us to push even further towards our vision to become the leading catalyst for the championing of socio-economic development,” Vilakazi said.
He added that the SEZ currently has three projects under construction which have created a total of 1 800 jobs, since construction started.
The Osho Cement plant, a R600-million project, has created 150 jobs; the R11 billion BAIC automotive manufacturing plant has created another 1500; and the R36-million Customs Control (CC) Warehouse accounts for the remaining 150 new jobs.
“To us, it’s not about the bricks and mortar, it’s about what the investment can translate meaningfully into the lives of ordinary citizens of the Eastern Cape,” said Vilakazi.
Thandazani Mbanga (30) from Kamvelihle in Motherwell, currently working as a General Worker at the Customs Control Area (CCA) Warehouse construction site in Zone 1, highlighted the importance of being able to provide for his family.
“Before this job, I had been unemployed for over two years. I am grateful for this opportunity and for the training I have received because it has equipped me with skills I desperately needed,” Mbanga said.
These sentiments were echoed by Antonio Fischer (23) from Gelvandale, Port Elizabeth, who is a Scaffold Director at the CCA Warehouse site. He said the job had “positively impacted my life through changing my financial condition because my wages allow me to afford my needs and those of my family”.
Nikelwa Mbumba (25) from East London is a Clerks of Works inspector at the CCA Warehouse construction site. “The CDC has assisted me greatly. I have had the opportunity to develop my skills and have gained greater insight into my chosen career path. I have managed to grow myself. Before I arrived at Coega, I only had theoretical knowledge of what we are dealing with on-site,” she said.