YOUTH MUST BE AT THE CENTRE OF ECONOMIC TRANSFORMATION

This year’s Youth Day, which commemorated the 1976 Soweto Uprisings, was held under the theme: “Youth Moving South Africa Forward”.

South Africa's youth must be placed at the centre of economic transformation, which is the focus of the new term of government. This is according to Deputy President Cyril Ramaphosa, who was speaking at the Galeshewe Stadium in Kimberley for the National Youth Day celebrations on 16 June.

He insisted that if the country could effectively address youth unemployment, not only would it lift millions of South Africans out of poverty, but it would also place the economy on a trajectory of sustainable, inclusive growth.

He noted that even though youth economic participation had improved in absolute terms since 1994, and while over the last 20 years government had created many opportunities, the youth still faced immense challenges.

There was a need to focus on special measures to ensure that South Africa’s youth have access to training, work experience, jobs and entrepreneurial opportunities.

“Nearly half of the six million work opportunities created through public works and community work programmes were for young people. In the last five years, R2,7 billion has been set aside for youth entrepreneurship finance and support. The amount of student bursaries has doubled,” the Deputy President highlighted.

He stressed the need to do more, saying sharper focus, better implementation and greater urgency were required.

The Deputy President added that youth unemployment must be on the agenda of every government department, every state agency, every corporate and every institution of learning. – Source: www.SAnews.gov.za

Read more: http://www.dirco.gov.za/dircoenewsletter/newsflash119-19-06-2014.html

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