Youth unemployment and access to finance for youth entrepreneurs will be the focus of 19 youth dialogues that are to be hosted by the Office of the Premier across the province as part of the programme to celebrate June Youth Month, Premier Supra Mahumapelo disclosed on Thursday.
Premier Mahumapelo said that the dialogues to be hosted by Youth Development in the Office of the Premier in partnership with the National Youth Development Agency, the Department of Labour and municipalities are aimed sharing information on the Provincial Youth Job Plan with the 9 000 young people and exposing youth enterprises to funding opportunities.
In inviting civil society, business and labour organisations to make a difference by helping implement the Social Accord on Youth Employment, Premier Mahumapelo said that youth are the foundation for the South Africa that government aspires to build as outlined in the National Development Plan.
“While we are intensifying our effort to assist young people to rise above their socio-economic challenges with youth development programmes, we believe that together we can support our youth by turning every workplace into a training space and help create apprenticeship, learnership and internship opportunities for youth at places of business,” Mahumapelo said.
Unemployed youth who are not registered with the Department of Labour as job seekers are advised to bring their CV’s while youth entrepreneurs are encouraged to bring business plans related to infrastructure, water, sanitation and transport at the dialogues.
Information to be shared with youth-owned enterprises includes accessing concessional funding through the R1 billion Youth Fund of the Industrial Development Corporation and the Small Enterprise Financing Agency which has made R1,7 billion available over the next five years for youth enterprises.
The engagements start tomorrow at 10h00 at Madibeng Sun Way near Silkaatsnek outside Brits, OR Tambo Hall in Tlokwe Township, Ratlou, Kgakala, Delarayville, Tlhabologang, Reagile, Christiana, Pudumong and Ipelegeng Community Halls.
The last sessions of the engagements are to be held on Saturday at Barolong Boo-Ratshidi Hall, Madikwe Sports Ground, Ntsweletsoku Tribal Kgotla, Colridge, Khuma, Morokweng and Venterdorp Extension 5 Halls.
Enquiries:
Sam Mokaila, Spokesperson
Cell: 082 559 7384
Fax: 018 388 3157
E-mail: smttumelo4@gmail.com
