Eastern Cape encouraged to explore other economic avenues

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The Public Service Accountability Monitor (PSAM) based at the Rhodes University in Makhanda has called on the Eastern Cape government to explore other avenues to stimulate the province’s crippled economy.

The province is currently in a technical recession and shed more than 77 000 jobs in the last quarter.

The Eastern Cape Socio- Economic Consultative Council put together an economic report detailing the provinces economic decline.

The report states that the economy retracted by another 0.3% in the first quarter of this year.

In June, Mercedes Benz SA announced its intention to retrench 700 of its employees.

The director of the PSAM, Jay Kruze has encouraged municipalities and the provincial government to take action in enhancing other sectors like tourism.

“PSAM would also encourage the provincial government and municipalities to take action to enhance tourism in the province, which can really contribute towards GDP growth. Improving the maintenance of district and minor roads will help communities in diverse ways and improve tourists access to more remote attractions and create greater opportunities for employment at hotels, lodges etc,” adds Kruze.