Johannesburg Mayor, Herman Mashaba has on expressed his happiness 12 February following the news that the City has created 110 000 jobs.

This is according to the Q4 Quarterly Labour Force Survey released by Stats SA earlier on 12 February.

“This is in stark contrast to the 200 000 jobs lost at the hands of the previous administration over their five-year term,” Mashaba said in the statement.

“Importantly, the City out-performed both the country and Gauteng province. Sadly, South Africa saw a net loss of 132 000 jobs year-on-year, increasing the expanded unemployment rate by 0.7 per cent. Gauteng saw a marginal decrease of 0.1 per cent in the expanded unemployment rate, with a net increase of 92 000 jobs over the same period.”

Mashaba said the latest jobs statistics has brought back confidence to businesses and entrepreneurs in Johannesburg as the country’s economic hub.

“Since coming into office, our multi-party government has worked to introduce a number of new initiatives intended to stimulate Joburg’s economy and, in the process, kick-start a sustained period of growth that will lead to jobs.

“These include the roll-out of Opportunity Centres, which will assist budding entrepreneurs with crucial skills and support for growing their businesses so that they, in turn, can create job opportunities.”

In 2018, the City identified 84 properties in the inner city earmarked for investment and development opportunities. The release of these properties is an attempt to rejuvenate the inner city and turn Johannesburg into a construction site.

“Most recently, we have commenced with the revitalisation of the Inner City another intervention through which we hope to create more jobs for our residents. Currently, a total of 84 properties for mixed-use development have been released by the City.

“Earlier this year, we announced the commencement of development set to begin at three of these properties with more soon to follow. By attracting investment from property developers and, in turn, turning our inner-city into a construction site, as has been our mission since this multiparty coalition took over the reigns, we will create jobs during as well as post-construction.”

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