Editorial: Speech must mark a new era for EC

EASTERN Cape government spokesman Sizwe Kupelo says Premier Phumulo Masualle will tomorrow detail his government’s plan to boost the provincial economy and to improve the delivery of basic ser vices.

Masualle’s state of the province address in Bhisho is arguably one of the most anticipated in recent years.

It comes at a pertinent moment when our nation is at a tipping point, desperate for strong leadership to navigate our country through a multitude of crises that confront us.

When debating President Jacob Zuma’s state of the nation address in parliament on Tuesday, Masualle set the tone for what is likely to come in his own address. The crux of it is that our economy is in trouble and it needs to grow.

Apart from the auto industry – which our province has heavily relied on for decades – green energy, agriculture and the ocean economy seem to be the latest buzz words in the Eastern Cape.

In parliament on Tuesday, Masualle suggested that through these industries, as well as direct investments in the Coega and East London IDZs, the province was well on its way to creating the kind of jobs needed to get this economy on the right track.

He painted a picture of a comprehensive strategy designed by the government to capitalise on the geographical strengths of each part of our beautiful province.

Yet, despite these efforts, unemployment figures remain unacceptably high and our economy is sluggish, having grown by only 1.5% in Mandela Bay in the 2014-15 financial year.

It does not take much to comprehend that not only is this situation unsustainable, it is a dangerous ticking bomb that threatens our future and social stability.

It is clear that more needs to be done for these plans to make a significant impact, particularly on the lives of poor citizens who are often at the receiving end of bad decisions made by the powerful elite.

Tomorrow Masualle’s speech needs to go beyond words. It must usher in a new era of prudent fiscal management which compels the government to do more with less.

It must boost public confidence and place business at the centre of driving real, tangible and sustainable economic growth.