In an effort to address high levels of youth unemployment, the department has approved an empowerment programme targeting young people in the Province.
The Human Settlements Empowerment Programme in the form of a National Human Settlements Brigade (NHSYB) is a departmental response to the call of upscaling government interventions for youth development. Youth can participate in this programme either as professionals, labours, entrepreneurs or beneficiaries.
South African government has identified the triple challenge of unemployment, poverty and inequality. Two thirds of the South Africa population are younger than 35 years old. The youth constitute 37% of the population. About 42% of young people under the age of 30 are unemployed compared with less than 17% of adults over 30.
The youth unemployment rate in the Eastern Cape was consistently higher than that of adults every year over the period of 2008-2014. Within this period, the unemployment for youth increased by 3.1% while it increased less than one percentage point for adults. It reached a peak of 40.7% in 2014 (StatsSA QLFS, Q1-2008-Q1:2014).
The Youth Brigades will at the end gain Artisan Development, Employment & Enterprise Development and Professional Development. This Programme is an extension of the Department’s Youth Build Programme and will be rolled out throughout the province.
The MEC of Human Settlements, Helen Sauls-August, will roll out the programme of the Youth Brigades in Aliwal North as follows:
Date: 16 July 2015
Venue: Dukathole Township
Time: 09h00
Enquiries:
Lwandile Sicwetsha( Mr)
Director: Corporate Communications
Tel: +27 (0) 43 711 9679
E-mail: lwandiles@ecdhs.gov.za
