African Union chairwoman Nkosazana Dlamini-Zuma says Africa needs a “skills revolution” in order to grow its economy and Gauteng could lead it.

Dlamini-Zuma delivered a keynote address at the Gauteng Economic Indaba in Sandton on Wednesday evening.

She spoke of the “rich Africa, poor Africans” paradox in which the continent found itself, saying SA had many resources it did not benefit from.

“We need ... a skills revolution in this continent because that is where we need urgent growth and modernisation of our economy. Gauteng has an opportunity to lead the skills revolution, but whether you use that opportunity or not is entirely up to you,” she said.

She said the province contributed between 7% and 10% of the continent’s gross domestic product (GDP), making Gauteng important for Africa.

Dlamini-Zuma said by 2050 the population of the continent was expected to be more than 2-billion.

“We will have the biggest workforce in the world – that’s a big advantage, if we manage that population and invest in it but if we don’t, it’s a ticking time bomb,” said Dlamini-Zuma.

She also said it was important that the continent focused on manufacturing and industrialisation in order to grow the economy.

“We need to industrialise, unfortunately the continent is de-industrialising including SA . . . Even the manufacturing sector in SA at some stage was at 25% (of GDP) now it’s down to 8% and that’s happening in the backdrop of a growing population, a young population,” she said

On education, she said the continent was not going anywhere fast because 90% of its students studied the humanities.

The other 10% studied science, technology, engineering and mathematics (Stem) but that was not enough.

Dlamini-Zuma said the continent should have a target of 70% of students studying science, technology, engineering and mathematics and 10% studying the humanities.

She cited Ethiopia as an example of a country that had achieved that goal and its economy had seen double-digit growth for the past 10 years.

She refused to be drawn into talk about the ANC presidency, saying she would respond to questions only if she was nominated.

Dlamini-Zuma and Deputy President Cyril Ramaphosa have both been punted as possible candidates to replace President Jacob Zuma as the party’s leader.

•Sourced from BusinessDAY South Africa. Photo shows African Union chairwoman Nkosazana Dlamini-Zuma.

Update news