A MULTI-SECTORAL KZN FRONT TO TACKLE GLOBAL RECESSION

KwaZulu-Natal roleplayers in government, private sector, labour front, academics and the wider civil society have committed themselves during an economic recovery and job development summit and agreed to partner each other in the formation of the KwaZulu-Natal Economic Development Advisory Council (KZNEDAC),says MEC for Economic Development and Tourism.

Michael Mabuyakhulu said this at the close of the two-day summit held at Sibaya Casino, Ballito over the weekend. He conceeded that in the wake of the negative impact felt in the province due to the global economic crisis, it became imperative that an all-embracing intervention was initiated.to
"We've embarked on a new social partnership, and we want to make a humble contribution that will help South Africa tackle the global economic recession and speed up our economic recovery.
KZN government leaders, influential business people, labour movement leaders, academics and the civil society activists were brought together to table their views as we define our own economic recovery.
Every stakeholder in the province contributed in the two-day Economic Recovery and Jobs Development summit" outlined Mabuyakhulu.

From KZN Premier Dr Zweli Mkhize, eThekwini Mayor Obed Mlaba, SA's Economic Development Minister Ebrahim Patel, Durban Chamber of Business President Clive Manci, Tourism KZN CEO Ndabo Khoza, Business Unity South Africa CEO Jerry Vilakazi, to Cosatu KZN Secretary Zet Luzipho, and may more eminent persons reached consensus on the establishment of the KZNEDAC.

"We do not have a choice, we need a strong social cohesion more than ever because of the negative impact of the global credit crisis whereby the lower income groups and the poor are the hardest hit.
Through this summit we show a committment to change and to turn the crisis into an opportunity, we know it is now business unussual and we have to do things and start to prioritize people's development" said DCC's Manci.

eThekwini Mayor Obed Mlaba reminded the delegates of the world-renowned Marshal Plan which Germany and Japan had adopted to resuscitate their economy recovery plans after the second World War, and he argued that South Africa do not only need to stimulate her economy as a response to the global financial meltdown but must structure her economic policies on a long-term growth path.

And Cosatu's Zet Luzipho commended the formation of the KZNEDAC highly by saying labour views will now be tabled and heard more clearly in KZN as it will give them a proper platform 'to air serious shopfloor challenges that were faced by ordinary workers daily during the global economic recession'.