Free State Premier Mxolisi Dukwana says low investment in the mining sector has affected the province’s contribution to the country’s Growth Domestic Product.
The province’s contribution to the GDP stood at 4.9% between 2019 and 2022. During this period the province’s economy recovered from 0.1% to 1.5%.
Speaking to SABC News, Dukwana said: “What we’ve seen in the mining sector there has been a lot of disinvestment in the area and that has affected the province’s contribution to the GDP and that is why the province has embarked on a programme to ensure that we diversify our economy and take advantage of what we have, especially the energy sector.”
VIDEO | In conversation with Free State Premier Mxolisi Dukwana on his State of the Province Address:
Meanwhile, data from Statistics SA shows production in the mining sector declined considerably in January.
Stats SA says the sector recorded a decrease of 3.3% year-on-year in January compared to point two of a percent year-on-year increase in December.
The largest negative contributors were manganese ore, gold and diamonds.
