Africa-Press – South-Africa. Gauteng Premier Panyaza Lesufi is looking for 12 000 young people to install free internet and wi-fi in townships, informal settlements and hostels, as well as another 6 000 to become data capturers.
Addressing the crowd at the Nasi Spani drive at Orlando Stadium on Thursday, Lesufi said that, every month until July 2024, he would create employment opportunities for the youth.
He said: “Today is not about speeches; it is about doing. We want to show our enemies who oppose us in employing young people that you are wrong. People need jobs. They don’t care who you are. They just want to be employed.”
Lesufi said the government would advertise more jobs to provide people with an income, ranging from R7 000 to R8 000.
“This month, we are going to advertise 6 000 jobs for people to be data capturers. We are moving from data to digital. We want 6 000 young people to come and change this. That is R8 000 a month to be a data capturer…
“In the month of October, we will be looking for 12 000 young people to install free internet and wi-fi in all our townships, all our informal settlements, and all our hostels,” Lesufi said.
He added that people, who had received appointment letters to train as solar panel technicians, would begin on 1 September and earn a R7 000 stipend.
Besides creating more jobs, Lesufi said the government had set aside R900 million, calling on young entrepreneurs to submit their business proposals.
“If there are young people who want to start a business, if there are young people who have business plans, if there are young people who want to be entrepreneurs, the government that I have the honour to lead is setting aside R900 million.
“We need business plans, so that we can fund you to start your own business in Gauteng… a car wash, a hair salon or a business… We are waiting for your business plan. We are ready for you!”
Speaking to the crowd, Employment and Labour Minister Thulas Nxesi applauded Lesufi’s initiative.
“From the Department of Employment and Labour, we applaud the good work being done by the Gauteng government to find work opportunities for unemployed young people. I believe that, with the same level of commitment and ambition across the government, we can make an impact on unemployment,” Nxesi said.
“The vision here goes beyond training and skills for unemployed youth. To also address issues of discipline, of self-discipline, social responsibility, giving back to the community as well as nation-building and patriotism in the best sense of the word.
“Whatever the programme, the premier can give you an opportunity, but if you are not disciplined… If you are lazy, you are not going to succeed. So the issue of self-discipline is very, very important.”
He also told Lesufi to “please ignore the naysayers, the opposition will attack you whatever you do… keep your focus on these young people and the need to address unemployment”.
The EFF, DA and ActionSA have accused Lesufi of using Nasi Spani to campaign for the ANC.
One of the 6 000 applicants, who had received an appointment letter at the stadium, expressed joy and appreciation for the opportunity to apply his knowledge.
“I was looking for such an opportunity since I am doing my mechanical studies and it is almost the same thing. And I am so very excited for it,” said the 20-year-old.
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