The Department of Economic Development is fast tracking the establishment of the Winterveldt Township Enterprise Hub. Township Enterprise Hubs are business incubators which will assist unemployed youth to start their own businesses through cooperatives or small businesses across a range of sectors.
All the logistical processes for the construction of the Winterveldt Hub have been completed, with construction scheduled to commence on 8 March 2013. The Winterveldt Hub will have a special focus on automotive related businesses such as tyre fitment, panel beating, body parts and repairing.
"The Hubs are a critical component of our response to the challenges posed by youth unemployment in our province. We consider youth empowerment extremely important in light of the Census 2011 results, which showed that the majority of Gauteng's citizens are young people" said Gauteng MEC for Economic Development Nkosiphendule Kolisile.
In addition to the measures taken by the Gauteng Provincial Government against non-performance, the department has also adopted stern action against the slow delivery of projects. To this effect, the responsibility for the construction Winterveldt Hub has been allocated to one of our entities - the Automotive Industry Development Centre (AIDC).
The Youth Project Management Office (PMO), which was previously in charge of this project, is currently under review.
As demonstrated in the State of the Province Address (SoPA), the Gauteng Provincial Government remains steadfast in its commitment to overcoming the youth unemployment scourge.
For more details and media enquiries please contact:
Phindile Kunene, Media Liaison Officer
Cell: 082 494 2409
Tel: 011 085 2538
E-mail: Phindile.Kunene@gauteng.gov.za
