BUSHBUCKRIDGE – The Ehlanzeni District Municipality (EDM) teamed up with the National Youth Development Agency (Nyda) and Absa to enhance young people’s working skills and mentorship.

It has been initiated because South Africa faces a big challenge regarding unemployment and incompetent staff. The lack of these skills enforces the youth to develop negative survival strategies, which might lead them to jail or sudden death.
The EDM, Nyda and Absa were at the Mapulaneng Multipurpose Centre where they elaborated on ways on how young people could reduce unemployment and poverty.
Mr Rapula Mahlangu of Absa told the youth who were interested in banking to register with the Letsema Group. This group trains young people in banking for free and pays stipends to each trainee.
Mahlangu said, “The Letsema Group offers free training for 12 months. If you pass the programme, you receive an NQF level-5 certificate in banking, hence you have one year’s banking experience.”
Mahlangu said trainees who excelled in this programme had their 12-month contracts extended for another year. They received an NQF level-6 certificate, which wa thes equivalent to a national diploma in banking at the end of the programme.
However, before any young person registers with the Letsema Group, it will conduct evaluations to check if he/she qualifies for the programme. Mahlangu added that the evaluations included ITC check. This helps the group to believe and trust that you are able to handle financial affairs