adminnation lost 14 000 jobs from the mining in one month, and this has seen political parties and economists call for stakeholders to work together with government if South Africa was to curb rampant unemployment.
Delivering the State of the Nation address in Parliament last week, South African President Jacob Zuma said addressing employment among the country’s youth was one of his government’s long-term goals.
Zuma said under the National Development Plan which outlines interventions aimed at put the economy on a better footing, the target for job creation is set at 11 million by 2030.
The economy needed to grow threefold to create the desired jobs, he said.
Zuma conceded to the challenges youth in the country faced, particularly unemployment, nonetheless conceded that just over a third of the population is under the age of 15, the country, “like many others”, had a crisis of youth unemployment.
He highlighted a number of measures government had initiated to curb unemployment among youth.
Last May, Zuma asked constituencies at the National Economic Development and Labour Council to discuss youth employment incentives.
“I am pleased that discussions have been concluded and that agreement has been reached on key principles.
“The parties will sign the accord later this month,” he said on Thursday.
“The incentives will add to what government is already doing to empower the youth. State-owned companies provide apprenticeships and learnerships and we urge that these be increased,” he said.
The president appealed to the private sector to absorb 11 000 FET graduates who are awaiting placements.
The Department of Rural Development and Land Reform runs the National Rural Youth Services Corps, which has enrolled 11 740 young people in various training programmes.
The department is also planning nine rural youth hubs per province, including in the 23 poorest districts in the country.
He said government will also use the Expanded Public Works Programme and the Community Work Programme to absorb young people.
“Working together we will find a solution to youth unemployment,” concluded Zuma on the subject.
President of the Democratic Alliance Helen Zille, who is also the Mayor of Cape Town, concurred.
“Government has never succeeded in doing anything by itself and we need everyone, including families and individuals, to play their part in achieving meaningful development. This is what we mean by ‘Better Together’,” she said.
Patrick Craven, spokesperson of the influential Congress of South African Trade Unions, believes Zuma’s government is on the right track.
“Cosatu welcomes many of the positive measures announced in President Zuma’s State of the Nation address, based on his commitment to continue with a programme of action to eradicate poverty, inequality and unemployment, in line with the five priorities that the ANC adopted in its 2009 manifesto – education, health, the fight against crime and corruption, creating decent work and rural development and land reform,” he said.
The South African Communist Party also backed Zuma’s administration.
“The SACP welcomes the broad thrust of the State of the Nation address delivered by the President of the Republic, Cde Jacob Zuma, on Thursday night.
“The address details achievements and tables new proposals as government continues to be seized with the task of fighting the triple challenges of poverty, unemployment and inequality,” spokesperson,Malesela Maleka, said. — CAJ News.
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