Asgisa on track to meet 2014 objectives

The Deputy Head of the Policy Unit in the Presidency, Alan Hirsch, says government will meet its Asgisa objectives of halving poverty and unemployment by 2014, despite the current electricity crisis and rising food prices. He was speaking during the launch of the Asgisa annual report at the presidential guest house in Pretoria.

The report has found that infrastructure investment in the country is exceeding expectation but that the continuing skills shortage and the low reserve margin in electricity supply are ongoing challenges.

Government has already indicated that economic growth, which is linked to fighting poverty, will slow down to around 4% this year.

Asgisa targets a 6% growth rate by 2010. Hirsch says there is, however, no need to adjust Asgisa's targets due to the power crisis.

Meanwhile, Deputy President Phumzile Mlambo-Ncguka - who officially launched the 2007 Asgisa report - says there is a positive side to the current power crisis. She says it has provided the country with the opportunity to reduce its electricity demand.