The Northern Cape’s premier is clear about what needs to be done for a successful term.

Premier Zamani Saul who was elected for a second term on 14 June said in his acceptance speech this is a moment of accelerated progress, accelerated development and accelerated growth. “I am deeply honoured and humbled that the ANC has demonstrated confidence in me to lead the people of this province for a second term of Government.”

Dr. Zamani Saul at his inaugural address. Picture: Facebook

He said that the ANC-led Provincial Government is committed to addressing issues faced by the youth within the province.

“We will continue to build on the successes of the past administration and still focus on creating jobs, building an inclusive and growing economy and we will equally focus on implementing a programme focused on skilling young people.”  

He reflected on their progress in the past five years through collaborations with two SETA programmes, merSETA and servicesSETA, to tackle youth unemployment and their plans for the next five years.

Just last month they introduced the Labour Activation Programme through the UIF Fund of the Department of Labour which will offer skills development opportunities valued at R545,250,200 to benefit 23,000 unemployed young people.

“One of the programme’s goals is to improve the employability of the unemployed through training and enterprise development,” he said.

The training opportunities will cover various sectors such as construction, enterprise development, ICT, agriculture, security, mining, and hospitality.

Saul said that building a fair and compassionate society can be achieved through partnerships and proactive efforts to promote social cohesion, and this should guide their discussions on the revival of positive values and moral regeneration.

“My role as Premier will be to provide strategic leadership and coordinating mechanisms to ensure all stakeholders are aligned. Our Integrated Governance, Coordination, and Service Delivery Model is designed to bring various role players and stakeholders together to build partnerships towards achieving our Provincial Vision,”

He said they plan on crafting a Provincial Medium Term Development Plan for the 2024 to 2029 period, which will translate their shared priorities into tangible actions and measurable outcomes.

Dr. Zamani Saul giving his address. Picture: Facebook

They would like to reassure the people of the Northern Cape they have learned from their mistakes and would do whatever is necessary to bridge the gap in trust. 

“As the premier, I want to reassert my commitment to lead with honesty, empathy, and hard work.”  

OFM News/Casey-Lee Anthony