south africa: Progress, protests at jobs summit

Some R145-billion has been earmarked for investment in a range of projects around the country and many unemployed South Africans stand to benefit not only from the jobs but from new skills that they will acquire. This emerged on Saturday when the much anticipated Growth and Development Summit saw about 300 people descend on Gallagher Estate in Midrand to witness the signing of an historic agreement for all parties to work together to revitalise South Africa's economy and to create jobs. Meanwhile a number of groups gathered outside the convention centre to voice concerns about the plight of the landless poor, those living with HIV/Aids and the inability of the unemployed in Soweto to pay up-front for electricity.