President Cyril Ramaphosa says his government will work tirelessly to create more jobs for the youth, especially in the Eastern Cape.
He was speaking during the International Nelson Mandela Day celebrations held at the Qunu Youth and Heritage Centre in Qunu, outside Mthatha, on Mandela’s birthday, July 18.
Ramaphosa also officiated at the unveiling of two statues of the late Nelson Mandela, one at Nelson Mandela Museum’s Bhunga Building in Mthatha and another at the Qunu Youth and Heritage Centre, on the same day.
He cited projects such as the Mzimvubu Water Project, renewable energy projects and manufacturing of electric vehicles as some of the projects where youth of the province will be absorbed.
“We are also going to see the automotive sector going to higher levels as we start manufacturing electric vehicles that are soon going to be in demand in the rest of the world. The Eastern Cape will be one of the provinces that are going to be leading in manufacturing of electric vehicles,” said Ramaphosa.
He further called for the development of Qunu to attract more tourists to the area, which will bring with it jobs and business opportunities for the locals.
“Already, I am told that this place (Qunu) has become a very important tourist destination. We now need to make this place even much more beautiful and developed to attract more tourists both locally and internationally,” added Ramaphosa.
He also justified the money spent on the statues amid outcry from sectors of the society against millions being spent on statues while many people are languishing in poverty, inequality, and unemployment.
Nelson Mandela Museum chief executive, Vuyani Booi, earlier said that the two Madiba statues cost around R3 million.
“Monuments, statues, and museums have key roles to play in the political and cultural life of any country. They are a means of giving recognition to those who suffered hardship, repression, exile or death in pursuit of universal ideals such as human freedom,” said Ramaphosa.
