Gov�t promises 6,800 jobs for SPEDU region
Staff Writer | Tuesday July 25, 2017 16:16
Through SPEDU Revitalisation Strategy, government is now promising to create 6,800 jobs with no timeframe. This was said by the Minister of Mineral Resources, Green Technology and Energy Security, Sadique Kebonang yesterday.
In the package, the ministry intends to establish SPEDU Region as an agricultural production centre for the country as well as making it a tourism centre.
The minister added that they intend to expedite the establishment and operationalisation of SPEDU Special Economic Zone focusing on manufacturing, renewable energy generation and distribution and Information and Communications Technology.
“Some of the projects currently being facilitated by SPEDU include textiles, information technology solutions, assembly of mobile handsets and assembly for mobile computer equipment,” Kebonang said.
Meanwhile the minister said that they have given up any hope of resurrecting BCL Mine after the initial investor Emirates Investment House pulled out, driving the Mine into final liquidation.
He said that more than 90% of former BCL employees have been paid their dues in terms of severance payments.
“Information obtained from the Provisional Liquidator indicates that all but nine employees who were employed as at date of liquidation and who were terminated because of liquidation have received their terminal benefits, seven for Tati and two for BCL.”
He said that there are 84 employees who were terminated prior to liquidation who are also due to be paid their terminal benefit – 81 from BCL and three from Tati. The main reason for the delay in payment is that some of them could not be located.