Programme
2 June 2006
Home Affairs Deputy Minister Malusi Gigaba has today, Friday, 2 June 2006
launched the National Youth Service Programme in Pretoria by calling on young
people to take their rightful place in the society in order to serve South
Africa and to help government create a better life.
The programme was launched under the theme "Age of Hope: Deepening youth
participation in development".
The Deputy Minister addressed 300 new recruits from around the country who
qualified to join the programme by possessing a matric certificate.
These unemployed new recruits will be part of the department's one-year
programme focusing on youth employment and skills development. The programme is
supported by the Umsobomvu Youth Fund, the Presidency, South African Management
Development Institute (SAMDI) and the Department of Labour.
Home Affairs used the readily available database from the latter to select
qualifying candidates suitable for the programme.
The event coincides with the 30th celebrations of the Soweto uprisings.
Said the Deputy Minister, "It is noble to serve the public and I have no
doubt that you will add value by working in our offices, at Multi Purpose
Community Centres (MPCCs), hospitals and mobile units in order to take Home
Affairs services to the next level. At the end of the 12-month period those of
you who will excel will be absorbed in the Department and some of you who would
have gotten the necessary skills will be employable in the private sector and
in the public service.â
âConsidering that we have challenges in Home Affairs, we decided to use the
National Youth Service Programme creatively in order to impact on service
delivery positively in a manner that will benefit South Africans, especially
the poor and ordinary people."
"Youth possess the necessary energy and vigour and we believe that by
bringing them into Home Affairs we are taking a step in the right direction to
ensure a turnaround in service delivery," the Deputy Minister concluded.
Enquiries:
Mantshele wa ga Tau
Cell: 082 802 4814
Issued by: Department of Home Affairs
2 June 2006
