Mashatile delivers on yet another key Provincial Government commitment
 MEC for Finance and Economic Affairs, Paul Mashatile, visited Sedibeng region for the launch of the Economic Opportunities Road show and the opening of the Sedibeng satellite of the GPG contact centre on Friday 2 nd March 2007.
In keeping with Government's commitment of bringing Government closer to the people, Mashatile was accompanied by leaders of the Sedibeng District and Emfuleni Local Municipalities, officials from the Department of Economic Development, Gauteng Shared Service Centre, Home Affairs, Social Development, Umsobomvu Youth Fund and agencies such as the Gauteng Enterprise Propeller and Gauteng Economic Development Agency.
A visibly buoyant Mashatile quipped, much to the excitement of the packed Rhoda Yende community hall, "Muso otlile bathong".
The economic opportunities road show was yet another indication that Government is committed to the objective of lifting our communities out of the indignity of poverty and economic neglect, said Mashatile.
He further reiterated government's commitment to ensuring that a government based on the will of the people will put them first in the spirit of Batho Pele. He cited the example of a proposal for an additional R50 million to be allocated for the upgrade for the sewage system. "We have received the application and are considering it positively", said the MEC.
He also indicated that people have indicated the need for more access to information about services and opportunities arising from the conditions created by the democratic situation currently sweeping the country.
 Our initiatives are geared towards ensuring that the overwhelming majority of our people benefited from the shared growth in the economy. These would include upgrades in infrastructure and the development of new sectors that would contribute to the regeneration of the regional economy.
True to his words, the MEC then headed to Veereniging for the official opening of the Sedibeng satellite site of the GPG contact centre. On arrival he was greeted by, GSSC CEO Mike Maile and officials from the Sedibeng District and the Emfuleni local municipalities.
Addressing members of the press, Mashatile said, "This is one of our key programmes in the quest to contribute to skills development for the Business Process Outsourcing industry (Call Centres).
The Sedibeng satellite will provide jobs to 150 to mainly young people from Sedibeng.
Because of the nature of the training the agents receive, it will enable them to move freely within any sector of the industry. This will also allow the GSSC to train more young people for the industry as it is envisaged that it will grow phenomenally in the future.
The initiative is a decisive intervention in the mission to fight poverty, and building an effective and caring government. The Sedibeng satellite site is part of plans to establish a 1000 seat GPG contact centre by the end of 2008. This is in addition to the site at 75 Fox and the site in Wynberg near Alexandra.
The contact centre industry has been further identified in the Growth and Development Strategy as one of the areas that will provide sustainable jobs.
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