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Geleshewe - Youth unemployment is probably the single most critical challenge facing South Africa today, Deputy President Cyril Ramaphosa said on Monday.
He spoke in the Northern Cape on Youth Day at the Commemoration of the 38th Anniversary of June 16 1976.
"More than a third of young South Africans in the labour force are unemployed. In every province, the unemployment rate among youth is more than double that of people over 35 years of age," said Ramaphosa.
"The youth are particularly vulnerable to unemployment, poverty, inequality and low skills levels."
If SA can effectively address youth unemployment, not only will the country lift millions of South Africans out of poverty, but it will also place the economy on a trajectory of sustainable, inclusive growth, he said.
"Yet, even though we may have defeated apartheid, the youth of today are still confronted by its legacy," said Ramaphosa.
"Today marks the beginning of the second phase of our transition from apartheid to a national democratic society."
This second phase will involve the implementation of radical socio-economic transformation policies and programmes over the next five years.
He said that economic transformation must and will take centre-stage during this new term of government.
Youth must be at the centre of that economic transformation.
"Even though youth economic participation has improved in absolute terms since 1994, and while over the last 20 years government has created many opportunities, the youth still face immense challenges," he said.
"We therefore need to focus on special measures to ensure that South Africa's youth have access to training, work experience, jobs and entrepreneurial opportunities."
He said SA has made progress in a number of areas. Twice as many young people are in university today than in 1994.
Nearly half of the six million work opportunities created through the public works and community work programmes were for young people.
In the last five years alone, R2.7bn has been set aside for youth entrepreneurship finance and support. The amount available for student bursaries has doubled.
"But we need to do more," said Ramaphosa.
"We need sharper focus, better implementation and greater urgency."
He said one of the most important factors contributing to youth unemployment is the relatively low levels of skills among young people.
This is, in his view, perhaps the most devastating aspect of our apartheid inheritance.
"That is why the National Development Plan has placed such emphasis on education and development, starting with early childhood development and the first one thousand days of life," said Ramaphosa.
"Progress in these areas will have a profound impact on the prospects for the next generation and those that follow."
He said SA needs to develop the skills that the country needs now.
The intake of students for post-school education will therefore be massively expanded over the next five years, with the aim of enrolling the majority of youth aged 18 to 23 years.
"Government will direct contractors to help increase the number of engineers and artisans, project managers, machine operators and financial managers," said Ramaphosa.
State owned enterprises will need to increase the number of training opportunities offered to young South Africans.
Part of this effort includes the establishment of two new universities, in Mpumalanga and here in the Northern Cape.
A major priority for government is providing work experience for new entrants in the workforce.
As a starting point, the public sector will increase the number of spaces for graduates to get experiential training.
"We are proceeding with the implementation of the youth employment incentive scheme. This aims to lower the cost and risk for firms to take on new entrants," said Ramaphosa.
"We will continue to monitor its implementation to ensure that it does not result in the displacement of other workers."
Government has also undertaken to set aside at least 60% of jobs on new infrastructure projects for young people.
This will be combined with improved training by FET colleges to ensure that there are enough young people with the necessary skills.
"It is critical that all stakeholders contribute to this effort," said Ramaphosa.
"It is for this reason that we last year welcomed the adoption by all key sectors of the Youth Employment Accord, and why we remain determined to work with our partners to see it implemented."
- Fin24
He spoke in the Northern Cape on Youth Day at the Commemoration of the 38th Anniversary of June 16 1976.
"More than a third of young South Africans in the labour force are unemployed. In every province, the unemployment rate among youth is more than double that of people over 35 years of age," said Ramaphosa.
"The youth are particularly vulnerable to unemployment, poverty, inequality and low skills levels."
If SA can effectively address youth unemployment, not only will the country lift millions of South Africans out of poverty, but it will also place the economy on a trajectory of sustainable, inclusive growth, he said.
"Yet, even though we may have defeated apartheid, the youth of today are still confronted by its legacy," said Ramaphosa.
"Today marks the beginning of the second phase of our transition from apartheid to a national democratic society."
This second phase will involve the implementation of radical socio-economic transformation policies and programmes over the next five years.
He said that economic transformation must and will take centre-stage during this new term of government.
Youth must be at the centre of that economic transformation.
"Even though youth economic participation has improved in absolute terms since 1994, and while over the last 20 years government has created many opportunities, the youth still face immense challenges," he said.
"We therefore need to focus on special measures to ensure that South Africa's youth have access to training, work experience, jobs and entrepreneurial opportunities."
He said SA has made progress in a number of areas. Twice as many young people are in university today than in 1994.
Nearly half of the six million work opportunities created through the public works and community work programmes were for young people.
In the last five years alone, R2.7bn has been set aside for youth entrepreneurship finance and support. The amount available for student bursaries has doubled.
"But we need to do more," said Ramaphosa.
"We need sharper focus, better implementation and greater urgency."
He said one of the most important factors contributing to youth unemployment is the relatively low levels of skills among young people.
This is, in his view, perhaps the most devastating aspect of our apartheid inheritance.
"That is why the National Development Plan has placed such emphasis on education and development, starting with early childhood development and the first one thousand days of life," said Ramaphosa.
"Progress in these areas will have a profound impact on the prospects for the next generation and those that follow."
He said SA needs to develop the skills that the country needs now.
The intake of students for post-school education will therefore be massively expanded over the next five years, with the aim of enrolling the majority of youth aged 18 to 23 years.
"Government will direct contractors to help increase the number of engineers and artisans, project managers, machine operators and financial managers," said Ramaphosa.
State owned enterprises will need to increase the number of training opportunities offered to young South Africans.
Part of this effort includes the establishment of two new universities, in Mpumalanga and here in the Northern Cape.
A major priority for government is providing work experience for new entrants in the workforce.
As a starting point, the public sector will increase the number of spaces for graduates to get experiential training.
"We are proceeding with the implementation of the youth employment incentive scheme. This aims to lower the cost and risk for firms to take on new entrants," said Ramaphosa.
"We will continue to monitor its implementation to ensure that it does not result in the displacement of other workers."
Government has also undertaken to set aside at least 60% of jobs on new infrastructure projects for young people.
This will be combined with improved training by FET colleges to ensure that there are enough young people with the necessary skills.
"It is critical that all stakeholders contribute to this effort," said Ramaphosa.
"It is for this reason that we last year welcomed the adoption by all key sectors of the Youth Employment Accord, and why we remain determined to work with our partners to see it implemented."
- Fin24
