President Jacob Zuma has launched the Presidential Youth Working Group, which aims at tackling issues such as socio-economic development and empowerment of the youth in the country.
President Jacob Zuma on Tuesday met with youth formations from various sectors in the country ranging from sport to the agricultural sector to discuss solutions to some of the problems young people face. The National Youth Policy which seeks to address challenges hindering the country’s youth was also discussed. Joblessness, youth incentives and the scourge of drug abuse were some of the issues discussed with the president by the formations.
Thamsanqa Maqubela from the South African Council for Graduates Cooperative says at least R100 million has been set aside to assist unemployed graduates in the country.
Maqubela says the money will be used to help unemployed graduates, especially those from underprivileged backgrounds.
TVET are producing really good graduates that are able to work.
Tessa Dooms from the Youth Lab, says more focus needs to be put on students from Technical and Vocational Education and Training (TVET) colleges so that they can venture into entrepreneurship based on skills they would have acquired.
“TVET are producing really good graduates that are able to work. In TVET colleges there lies an opportunity of entrepreneurship training and development,” says Dooms. She says we need to start saying there are people who are plumbers who are trainers but they don’t know how to go out and make those businesses.
Deputy Minister in the Presidency, Buti Manamela says although the meeting was a success, there were some concerns raised on the demographic representation at the meeting. Manamela says there needs to be more women and people from the working class involved in the discussions.
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