Govt’s biggest measure of success will be reducing the unemployment rate - Macpherson

CAPE TOWN - Public Works and Infrastructure Minister Dean Macpherson said that government’s biggest measure of success would be reducing the unemployment rate.

He said that infrastructure would be crucial in meeting this target, saying his department wanted to be the "economy delivery unit" of South Africa.

Macpherson was addressing the inaugural meeting of MINMEC, where the minister meets with all provincial MECs and senior officials.

Minister Mcpherson told the gathering of Public Works MECs that "turning South Africa into a construction site" was more than just a slogan.

He said this was part of the strategy to create employment, calling it the seventh administration’s biggest task.

"Indeed, our greatest task over the next five years in government and the most significant measure of success will be our ability to reduce the country’s stubbornly high unemployment rate meaningfully."

Macpherson said South Africans had waited long enough for jobs and service delivery.

"We have no time to waste in delivering for our communities across the country. They simply cannot wait any longer to see the results of our efforts and our plans."

The gathering comes not long after the medium-term budget policy statement, where Finance Minister Enoch Godongwana put infrastructure at the front of spending priorities.