Speaking during the provincial summer campaign launch in Gariep, MEC Koketso Makume said the decision to host the event in the Xhariep District was deliberate, as the area faces high unemployment and financial hardships.

“When we decided to come here, it was one of the factors you really need to start to promote Xhariep so that it starts to attract investors, attract people with interest, and then start to think about how best we can create jobs around here through our own initiatives and initiatives of investors.” 

He said the provincial government wants tourism to make a tangible difference in areas with severe economic challenges.

“It was not a mistake that we decided to take the summer campaign here. We want tourism to impact and dent the unemployment rate so that it declines. It can’t do that if we specifically target areas that have serious and greater challenges in relation to unemployment.”

Makume emphasised issues of poverty and inequality remain pressing in the Xhariep District, describing it as one of the most affected areas in the province.

“We are beginning to say where there are challenges there has to be opportunity. So the opportunity here is we must create jobs, we must make sure we invite businesses so that our people can strive to enjoy the fruits of liberation.”

Gariep Dam

Although the launch represents the entire Free State, Makume said it was also important to showcase what Gariep has to offer. He said Gariep Dam, one of the largest dams in Africa, is an underutilised asset that holds immense tourism and investment potential.

“The dam is not marketed in the country, and people do not take a keen interest in opportunities offered by the dam. Developments in the dam must be linked with areas that surround it so that those areas also gain something as the centre of their economic activity to benefit all people.”

Kopanong Local Municipality mayor, Xolani Tseletsele, echoed Makume’s sentiments, saying Xhariep has the potential to be transformed through intentional and strategic investment.

“They don’t have agricultural land, they don’t have mining, but over 100 mining companies are established in Singapore. So this is an area, if it is to be developed, we must be able to do what we call deliberate investment so that new productive forces must be created for job creation, for tourism, and all other areas that speak to economic development.” 

The provincial summer campaign aims to boost tourism and investment across the Free State, with a strong focus on ensuring economically distressed areas like Xhariep become central to the province’s growth and recovery efforts.

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OFM News/Kekeletso Mosebetsi dg