EWN reports that Public Works and Infrastructure Minister Dean Macpherson says releasing vacant state properties for redevelopment will create over 160,000 jobs.

These properties will also bring in almost R200 million in rental income for government. Macpherson announced the policy move to release public properties for redevelopment during Wednesday's debate in parliament on the State of the Nation Address (SONA). He noted that state-owned properties had stood vacant for too long, attracting crime and decay. In a 'major policy shift', his department had released public properties for requests for proposals and had invited both the public and private sectors to submit ideas. "In our first round, we will release 31 properties for redevelopment, valued at R1.4 billion. This is estimated to generate up to R10 billion in private investment, create over 165,000 jobs, and generate close to R200 million in rental income for the South African government,” Macpherson said.

• Read the full original of the report in the above regard by Babalo Ndenze at EWN

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