Themba Gadebe
15 December 2005
South Africa's smallest province, spanning just
17 000 square kilometres, represents half of the country's earnings and pays nearly half of its salaries, a survey has indicated.
Statistics SA released the results of a survey showing that Gauteng's employees accounted for 47.7 percent of the country's total turnover and its businesses contributed 50.4 percent in Pretorias on Wednesday.
'More efficient'
The Remuneration of Employees and Turnover of Institutions According to Levies Received by District and Metropolitan Municipalities by Province is based on data for the quarter that ended in September.
The information is used to estimate the gross domestic product (GDP) per region.
"The fact that the province receives so much revenue may also indicate that authorities in Gauteng are more efficient in collecting revenue from residents and the financial management of the province is in good order," the Gauteng government said.
Economic growth
According to the report, total remuneration in the country decreased by 4.5 percent while total turnover increased by 3.4 percent in the third quarter of 2005.
Known as the country's economic nucleus, Gauteng boasts "impressive" levels of investment and economic growth.
About nine million people residing in the province contribute an estimated one third of the country's GDP and about nine percent of the GDP of the entire African continent.
The manufacturing sector alone employs 600 000 people in more than 9000 enterprises. The provincial economy is increasingly shifting towards information technology and communications, rather than heavy industry.
Source: BuaNews
