Labour Minister launches R446m job drive in Matsila
Minister Nomakhosazana Meth launches Labour Activation Programme aiming to create 13 609 jobs, and donates 50 wheelchairs to people with disabilities.
LIMPOPO – The Minister of Employment and Labour, Nomakhosazana Meth, led an activation event in Matsila village on Friday, where she handed over contracts worth R446m to implementing partners of the Labour Activation Programme (LAP).
The minister also delivered 50 wheelchairs to people living with disabilities in the community.
The LAP funding is expected to create 13 609 jobs for local residents, particularly targeting unemployed youth and vulnerable groups in Limpopo. Beneficiaries from Matsila and surrounding areas will be enrolled in accredited skills development programmes including horticulture, landscaping, poultry farming, new venture creation, and cleaning services.
“The Labour Activation Programme is our flagship initiative to stimulate employment through partnerships with accredited training providers and enterprises. It equips beneficiaries with practical, industry-relevant skills, linking them to work-based learning and temporary employment. The goal is long-term economic inclusion,” the minister said.
She said the programme also caters to persons living with disabilities, especially those who sustained injuries on duty (IOD) and were left without access to supportive devices or equipment. She highlighted the importance of empowering learners with disabilities by providing visual, hearing, and mobility aids, enabling their participation in skills training and future employment.
In collaboration with the Matsila Royal Family Foundation, chief Livhuwani Matsila welcomed the initiative and reaffirmed his commitment to empowering the disabled community. “Our experience shows that persons living with disabilities are often excluded from economic participation due to a lack of enabling equipment such as wheelchairs, hearing aids, and braille devices. Most employers, including in government, struggle to meet the 2% employment target for persons with disabilities. Providing supportive devices and creating inclusive environments is a necessary catalyst.”
Meth also used the occasion to raise awareness about disability inclusion, urging all community members to take collective responsibility in supporting persons living with disabilities. She said that addressing stigma, discrimination, and abuse begins at community level, and that families living with disabled members need more awareness, compassion and resources.
