Economic growth rests on how much officials contributes - MEC Mahlangu

The officials in the Department of Economic Development, Environment and Tourism must be the “most enthusiastic people around” because the aspirations of the people rest on them”, said MEC Jabu Mahlangu.

Sharing his thoughts about the path that the department will travel in the next five year during, his first meeting with the members of the executive management of the department, MEC Mahlangu urged the officials must always look forward to the next working day because much of what need to be done, such as creation of decent jobs, rests on how much we contribute to the efforts to grow the economy.

“The department should advance economic development in the province. We have the responsibility to take the people from the second to the first economy.

“The department should for example coordinate all efforts of the Government to ensure equitable share of the economic wealth of the country.

“We must be in the forefront of programmes aimed at assisting the people to be what they want to be”, said MEC Mahlangu

MEC said the combination of economic development and environment is a very interesting and manageable challenge for the department.

“This is very interesting combination. Let’s brace ourselves for the contradictions that may arise between environment and economic requirements and stand ready to provide the right responses while communicating broadly and clearly on the mandate of the department,” said MEC Mahlangu.

The scope of interaction between the department and the national government has now been expanded from three to six national departments which are Departments of Economic Development, Trade and Industry, Mining, Energy, Tourism, Water and Environmental Affairs.