The relaunch of the Nasi Ispani initiative brings to light the unemployment plight as scores of young people queued in numbers to register to be part of the programme at Change Bible Church in Tsolo Section, Katlehong, on September 11.

The Nasi Ispani programme was spearheaded by the Gauteng Premier Panyaza Lesufi and attended by other distinguished guests such as the Ekurhuleni acting executive mayor, Jongizizwe Dlabathi, and MEC for Community Safety Faith Mazibuko.

Many young people who came to register to be part of the Nasi Ispani programme, said they are extensively affected by unemployment and they are anticipating that the programme will change their situations.

Sinothando Nkejane 21, who was amongst the youth who came to register for the Nasi Ispani initiative, said she is registering to be part of the programme, because she has been struggling to find employment.

“I’m here to try my luck and register to be part of the initiative, because it’s tough out here. I have been struggling to find employment, and my parents are pensioners.

“It’s really bad, because we are burdens to our parents who are already pensioners; they have to use their older person’s grant money to provide for us, because we are unemployed,” said Nkejane.

She mentioned that she is desperate to find employment.

“Any job for me would do, because I have been trying to apply for jobs, but I have been unsuccessful. Young people are resorting to substance abuse because they are frustrated.

“I hope the programme will change my plight.”

Another unemployed youth, Mthobisi Dlamini (22), residing in Moshoeshoe Section, Katlehong, said he heard from word-of-mouth that there’s a skills development programme that offers young people job training opportunities, and then he decided to come and try his luck.

“I came here because I’m looking for any opportunity to be upskilled and employed. The numbers here today show that a lot of young people are unemployed, which is very sad.

“Although the odds are against us as young people, we will remain hopeful, and we are anticipating that Nasi Ispani initiative will change our situation,” expressed Dlamini.

Another unemployed 31-year-old woman who asked for anonymity said she has been unemployed for five years.

“I been applying for jobs, but I have not been able to secure a job. This is the first time I’m hearing about the Nasi Ispani programme, but I believe this initiative is part of Lesufi’s electioneering campaign for the ANC in the upcoming local government elections next year.

A beneficiary of Nasi Ispani programme, Keitumetse Nyembe (28), residing in Thokoza who is currently training as a hospital porter at Bertha Gxowa Hospital, said she registered to be part of the programme in February in Springs.

“I was called on August 5, and told that I had been accepted to be part of the initiative, and I started my job training on September 1, at Bertha Gxowa Hospital as a porter.

Another beneficiary of the Nasi Ispani programme, Khensani Makonto, residing in the Phadima Section, in Katlehong, said she is currently training as an administration clerk through the Nasi Ispani initiative.

“The programme has helped me a lot, because I’m currently training as an administration clerk. I’m advising other young people to take advantage of the opportunity, and they mustn’t lose hope even when they are not accepted in the programme.

“They must continue applying; eventually they will get an opportunity,” Makonto advised.

Gauteng Premier Lesufi, when addressing the attendees in the relaunch of Nasi Ispani programme said that those who seek employment must take the opportunity with both hands.

“Anyone who will be absorbed into the programme will get a stipend and also get an opportunity to be trained and upskilled in the programme.

“Our call is that all learners at various schools should be equipped with vocational skills. This initiative serves as a starting point for young people to be equipped with vocational skills,” Lesufi shared.

He said when they announced that they are bringing the campaign to Katlehong, they wanted all the young people in Kathorus to come and register to be part of the programme.

“When we are taking in young people into the skills development campaign, we don’t focus on young people from any specific party, and young people mustn’t bribe anyone to be part of the programme.

“I know a lot of people will think we are initiating this initiative as an electioneering campaign, but this not because of that; we are trying to curb the employment scourge in Gauteng,” Lesufi expressed.

He added that today marks a milestone wherein 2500 beneficiaries of Nasi Ispani are starting their 24-month job training in Gauteng’s hospitals, government departments, and municipality departments.

“We are also starting another recruitment drive, wherein we are taking in 2,800 participants; the participants are going to get training in construction, mechanics, and electrical engineering.”