{
  "id": 1778227,
  "title": "Lehohla calls on Eastern Cape to unlock economic potential",
  "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/08/18/lehohla-calls-on-eastern-cape-to-unlock-economic-potential",
  "topic": "business",
  "section": "Business",
  "published": "2026-08-18T19:10:44.000Z",
  "source": {
    "name": "SABC News",
    "slug": "sabc-news",
    "url": "https://www.sabcnews.com/sabcnews/lehohla-calls-for-eastern-cape-to-unlock-its-economic-potential/"
  },
  "original_language": "en",
  "account": "Former Statistician-General Dr. Pali Lehohla believes the Eastern Cape province has immense economic potential but has struggled to break free from its historical role as a labour-sending region. Addressing the Eastern Cape Provincial Economic Stakeholders Session in Kukuman City, Lehohla highlighted unemployment and a stagnant economy as major challenges facing the province. The recently released Quarterly Labour Force Survey showed that unemployment in the Eastern Cape skyrocketed to 75%, up from 44%, solidifying South Africa's highest unemployment rate. Lehohla attributed slow growth to urban migration driven by economic opportunities, noting that the province has historically exported its workforce, from mining industries to politics and manufacturing, without retaining economic value. Furthermore, Lehohla disclosed that Eastern Cape's agricultural sector has also lost its chance to produce food for its people, further limiting economic growth in the region.",
  "summary": "Former Statistician General Dr Pali Lehohla says he believes that the E Cape has a huge potential.",
  "key_points": [
    "Eastern Cape province has high economic potential but faces unemployment and stagnant economy.",
    "Unemployment rate in Eastern Cape soared to 75% in recent survey, up from 44%.",
    "Province's agricultural sector lost chance to produce food for its people."
  ],
  "editors_take": null,
  "illustration": null,
  "coverage": {
    "outlets": 1,
    "also_reported_by": []
  },
  "ai_generated": true,
  "disclaimer": "Summaries, key points and the editor’s take are written by software from other outlets’ reporting and may contain errors — always check the linked original."
}