In 2021, the greatest challenge facing today’s youth is unemployment. According to Stats SA, the unemployment rate as per the expanded definition of unemployment increased by 0.6 of a percentage points to 43.2% in the first quarter of 2021.
The official unemployment rate among youth aged 15 to 34 was 46.3% in first quarter of the year. Among university graduates, the unemployment rate stood at 9.3%.
The Gauteng Department of Social Development is continuing to tackle issues affecting youth negatively.
Tabling the 2021/22 department’s vote at the Gauteng Provincial Legislature, the Gauteng Social Development MEC, Morakane Mosupyoe said the department will multiply youth skills training in the province.
“Recently, as part of our programmes to commemorate the 1976 generation the Department of Social Development we held a youth engagement webinar and our theme was, “The Year of Charlotte Maxeke: Implementing sustainable youth development programmes for the South Africa we want”.
Sibusiso Chauke, from the Gauteng Social Development,says the Department renders various youth programmessuch as skills development, entrepreneurship and other relevant interventions. The department is also funding skills development centres, NPOs and Cooperatives to train and employ young people across the province.
“One such Organization is Bambisandla – Sami Centre of Excellence in Western Deep Levels, Carletonville funded by Gauteng Department of Social Development for the betterment of young people,” says Chauke.
Chauke says Gauteng Department of Social Development will continue empowering youth through the NPOs, Cooperatives and Skills Development Centres.
