‘We need to create jobs for youths’
Premier Chupu Mathabatha, in his State-of-the-Province Address last Thursday, described youth development as being at the apex of government's priorities.
POLOKWANE – “Some of the challenges affecting young people are issues of unemployment, substance abuse and the lack of skills,” he said .
Mathabatha stated that, according to Statistics South Africa, the biggest proportion of unemployed youth are those who did not complete Gr 12.
“These youths constitute over 55% of the unemployed population. This is followed by those who completed Gr 12, as their highest qualification, at almost 35%.”
He said it was clear that there is a greater relationship between employment and skills.
“Responding to this reality, last week Tuesday I launched a youth skills development initiative. Through a partnership with MSC College Polokwane, Gijima and MicSETA, we have placed over 300 young people on a skills augmentation programme, a 12-months learnership.”
He referred to a similar partnership relationship having been forged in November last year with Google South Africa.
“This partnership will see us cooperating in training our youth in areas of digital skills, computer science and issues relating to cyber-security, ” he said.
“With regard to the National Youth Service Programme, the province has collaborated with MerSETA for welding learnerships at NQF level 4 and trade tests for 62 learners, which will be completed in May this year.”
Mathabatha said the artisan partnership with Seda Limpopo has provided opportunities to 72 learners in the jewellery incubator programme.
The artisan programme will continue until 2021.
Mathabatha said government had collaborated with the Services Seta on a Cleaning and Hygiene project in all five the districts, involving 110 youth participants.
We recently signed a memorandum of understanding with Roasa to implement a MerSETA program for:
• 70 interns to be placed in all five districts for a period of 24 months;
• 100 electrical apprenticeships;
• 25 welding, 25 fitting apprenticeships, and
• 25 diesel mechanics who will be trained through Waterberg TVET College.
He said Provincial Government, working with the South African National Council for the Blind (SANCB), has placed 39 blind and short-sighted young people in various municipalities.
Mathabatha said that Limpopo is the home of abundant art talent.
“Government is committed to support and work with our young people to assist in nurturing and exposing this talent. In this context I have instructed the MEC for Sport, Arts and Culture to expedite the process for the realisation of the much-awaited Limpopo Provincial Theatre.”
Mathabatha said the MEC will make a detailed pronouncement during her budget speech.
