The Eastern Cape’s economy stands at a crossroads. Today’s inaugural Business Parliament is an opportunity to set a clear path for job creation in a province where unemployment remains stubbornly high.
This engagement brings together business leaders, public representatives, and sector specialists to discuss economic policy, job creation, regulatory reform, and improvements to the business climate. It must not become another talk shop, but rather a springboard for urgent and practical action.
If the Business Parliament fails to move beyond words, it will only deepen the frustration of ordinary citizens who are desperate for work. This is an opportunity for the government to listen to business sector and identify what support is truly needed to unlock growth, create jobs, and restore hope for the people of this province.
The latest Quarterly Labour Force Survey (QLFS) shows unemployment in the Eastern Cape rising to 39.5% in the second quarter of 2025. These figures, which reflect April to June, do not yet capture the full impact of the punitive 30% US tariffs that came into effect in August. These tariffs are expected to weigh heavily on sectors such as automotive, manufacturing, and agriculture.
The Democratic Alliance (DA) has long warned that without urgent reform, the Eastern Cape will remain trapped in a cycle of joblessness and dependency.
Our six-point plan to turbocharge the provincial economy offers a credible blueprint to reverse this decline. It calls for removing job-killing policies, ensuring affordable and reliable energy, fixing collapsing network industries, cutting wasteful expenditure, turning dysfunctional municipalities into delivery hubs, and tackling the crime epidemic that strangles economic growth.
Implementing these reforms would unlock investment, stabilise the economy, and create an enabling environment for businesses to expand and employ more people. With tariffs and global pressures mounting, decisive reform is no longer optional but essential.
The Eastern Cape cannot afford to lose more young people to other provinces in search of work. Reforming local government to deliver infrastructure, cutting red tape for small businesses, investing in energy stability, and improving rural safety are critical to rebuilding economic confidence and restoring dignity through job creation.
The people of the Eastern Cape deserve leadership that delivers, and a future built on dignity, opportunity, and honest government.