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| Zuma promises half a million jobs | Zuma promises half a million jobs |
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| New South African President Jacob Zuma has promised to create half a million jobs this year in his first state of the nation address. | New South African President Jacob Zuma has promised to create half a million jobs this year in his first state of the nation address. |
| He said fighting poverty was his priority, a week after South Africa officially announced it was facing its worst recession in 17 years. | He said fighting poverty was his priority, a week after South Africa officially announced it was facing its worst recession in 17 years. |
| "We must act now to minimise the impact of this downturn on those most vulnerable," he said in Cape Town. | "We must act now to minimise the impact of this downturn on those most vulnerable," he said in Cape Town. |
| But he also told parliament the government had to spend wisely. | But he also told parliament the government had to spend wisely. |
| Mr Zuma's trade union allies are demanding more spending and deeper interest rate cuts, but the president is also wary of scaring off investors, say analysts. | Mr Zuma's trade union allies are demanding more spending and deeper interest rate cuts, but the president is also wary of scaring off investors, say analysts. |
| We will have to act prudently - no wastage, no rollovers of funds - every cent must be spent wisely and fruitfully President Jacob Zuma Jacob Zuma's challenges | |
| "Between now and December 2009, we plan to create about 500,000 job opportunities," he told MPs. | "Between now and December 2009, we plan to create about 500,000 job opportunities," he told MPs. |
| He said a 787bn rand ($98bn; £60bn) spending programme announced in this year's budget - and including funds for schools, transport, housing and sanitation - must be properly planned. | |
| "In the face of the economic downturn, we will have to act prudently - no wastage, no rollovers of funds - every cent must be spent wisely and fruitfully," he said. | |
| Analysts say Mr Zuma needs to ensure he does not alienate investors ahead of the football World Cup being hosted by South Africa in 2010. | |
| Anti-apartheid icon Nelson Mandela is among those attending the speech at parliament. | Anti-apartheid icon Nelson Mandela is among those attending the speech at parliament. |