The Gauteng Legislature has repealed the law that established the Gauteng Youth Commission, thus paving the way for the National Youth Development Agency to start operating in the province.
The scrapping of the Gauteng Youth Act is in line with the national government’s decision to abolish the National Youth Commission and the Umsobomvu Youth Fund to establish the National Youth Development Agency.
The MEC responsible for youth development in Gauteng, Nonhlanhla Mazibuko, has assured employees of the Gauteng Youth Commission that they will not be retrenched. These employees will be absorbed into other departments of the Gauteng Provincial Government (GPG). This process of employee absorption has already started.
The provincial programme for youth empowerment will continue to be implemented by all government departments. “The provincial government has developed programmes and plans to advance youth development in line with provincial priorities for the next five years,” Mazibuko said.
Programmes have been initiated in the following areas:
* skills development
* the establishment of youth cooperatives
* the use of government procurement to support youth owned enterprises.
The GPG has set itself a target of using the National Youth Service programme to train 4 000 young people in critical skills such as engineering, project management and others. Half of the government’s procurement of goods and services will also go to enterprises with significant youth ownership.
Youth development remains a priority of the provincial government and all departments have taken measures to implement youth development programmes in this term of government.
Enquiries:
Sifiso Ngcobo
Cell: 083 449 7199
Tel: 011 355 5592
Issued by: Office of the Premier, Gauteng Provincial Government
16 September 2009
