Tshepo 1Million benefits more than 470 000 young people
Creating opportunities for Gauteng youth to enter the labour market and undertake sustainable entrepreneurial activities is top priority for Gauteng Premier, David Makhura.
Since adopting the youth empowerment initiative- Tshepo 1Million, more than 470 000 young people have benefited from various opportunities offered by the programme, including skills, entrepreneurship and job placement opportunities.
Tabling the 2017/18 Annual Report at the Gauteng Provincial Legislature on Tuesday, 4 September 2018, Premier Makhura said that the provincial government was determined to reach its target of benefitting one million young people through the programme.
“The youth of our province have come out in full support of Tshepo 1Million. This programme is currently being rolled out in municipalities in partnership with the YES initiative launched by the President,” said Premier Makhura.
The Youth Empowerment Services (YES) initiative aims to see more than one million young South Africans offered paid work experience as part of placing the needs of and opportunities for young people at the centre of inclusive economic growth.
In addition, Premier Makhura said that the provincial government’s Township Economy Revitalisation has made a huge impact in sustaining jobs and incomes for people living in townships, especially youth.
“The pioneering work we are continuing to do in revitalising the township economy receives serious attention from respected financial journals and academic publications,” he added.
Between the year 2014 and June 2018, public procurement spend on township enterprises by Gauteng departments has increased to R20 billion.
The number of township enterprises doing business with the provincial government has also increased sustainably from 640 in 2014 to 4 000 in the 2017/18 financial year.
Moreover, Premier Makhura said that the provincial government has awarded bursaries to 18 000 to students and transitioned 28 000 young mothers who used to depend on social grants into proper jobs and self-employment by providing training and skills development.