Gauteng MEC for Infrastructure Development Ms Qedani Mahlangu is appalled by the thuggish and hooligan behaviour of the small group of National Youth Service (NYS) recruits who held employees at the department’s headquarters hostage for several hours today.
It is clear that the group had only malicious intents when they marched to DID headquarters, as they came ready with chains and padlocks which they used to lock entrances to the building.
They then went on to engage in violent behaviour, intimidating DID employees and seizing the main gate remote, preventing staff and the general public from accessing the building.
Needless to say, this disgusting conduct detracts from any grievance they may have and casts them as nothing but a lawless bunch.
As the department, we are in a way not surprised the group resorted to the tactics they have chosen, as they are well aware that many of their so-called grievances are without foundation.
The demand for the NYS stipend to be increased from the current R 1 450 to R 4 500 is clearly misguided as the amount is not set by DID or any of its client departments and government agencies who host NYS cadets.
It is gazetted by the National Department of Labour.
Ministerial determination 4 of 8/10/12 reads in part:
“The prescribed minimum wage for the EPWP will therefore be increased to R 66.34 per day or per task with effect from 1 November 2012”
NYS 2012/13 recruits have signed contracts, which clearly spell out the stipend of R 1 459.48 per month, as worked out in terms of the above mentioned ministerial determination.
“It is totally unacceptable that the recruits signed these contracts well aware of the terms and conditions, including the stipend and now to try and change these terms and conditions by resorting to criminal behaviour. Thuggish conduct will get them nowhere, and I will certainly not yield to this sort of intimidation,” said MEC Mahlangu.
MEC Mahlangu has again emphasised that the NYS is not an employment scheme, but rather a youth skilling and work exposure programme.
Its intention is to prepare unemployed young people to take advantage of any employment and further education opportunities that may arise at the end of their 1 year’s participation in the programme.
Participation in the NYS carries no explicit or implicit promise of guaranteed employment.
It is quite notable that violent and rowdy as it was, the group that picketed outside DID represents just a small fraction of the 2 500 NYS recruits for the 2012/13 intake, who have been placed successfully with host departments and government agencies, and are carrying on with the programme.
For further enquiries please contact:
Thulasizwe Simelane
Cell: 081 031 3518
E-mail: Thulasizwe.Simelane@gauteng.gov.za
