Vavi was addressing the Nedlac summit, the negotiating chamber for government, labour and business, in Johannesburg at the weekend.

"Unemployment, poverty and inequality remain the triple challenges of all our Nedlac constituencies. We have warned over and over again that South Africa is sitting on a ticking bomb.

"The recent Marikana mine massacre was an explosion, sending an alarm signal to us all," Vavi said.

Forty-four people died last month during the ongoing labour-related demonstrations . President Jacob Zuma has instituted a commission of inquiry into the matter.

Vavi said: "Young people constitute more than 60% of the working population, yet they make up 72% of the unemployed. If we fail to provide these young people with the hope of work and an income, the consequences for us all will be catastrophic.

"The crisis of unemployment requires interventions to address the apartheid economy's fault lines, such as the dysfunctional education system that continues to sideline millions and provide them with inadequate skills."

He said education was another important tool "in our struggle against poverty and inequality".

"Many unemployed youth should be at school, acquiring skills and increasing their potential for jobs."

But Vavi warned against any form of exploitation. "These must be genuine co-operatives, not set up by employers to exploit workers. This could be complemented by special measures to promote youth-owned small businesses," said Vavi.

"We must retain our best teachers and provide professional support to improve the quality of education. Teachers' [salaries] must motivate them to remain in education to help lay the foundation of producing knowledgeable workers of the future."

lCosatu holds its elective national congress this weekend.

Comments

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Tue May 21 19:52:17 SAST 2013 ::

Sep 11, 2012

Danielrjvvuren

For once I agree. Education is the cornerstone to all and every problem we are facing. We NEED educated people and the Universities are practically paying students who do well at school to study so guys get those kids in school and make them work hard. Can't believe I agree with Vavi?
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Sep 11, 2012

Chichi7

I agree but what about the torching of schools and intimidation of teachers that are willing to teach?
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Sep 11, 2012

MommaC

"Many unemployed youth should be at school, acquiring skills and increasing their potential for jobs."

How?
Unemployed youth very seldom have R20 odd gs lying around for education purposes and even if they did, it is damn hard to study on an empty tummy and with the awful basis that our schooling provides.
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Sep 11, 2012

spatch

With MommaC and Daniel-san looking like destitute street paupers compared to Malema, zuma and Vavi etc,. I expect them to do something revolting to address the inequalities.
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Sep 11, 2012

spatch

anc macroeconomic policy is so screwed up that there appears to be no hope. You can churn out PhD's, but if there is no work for them, what's the point?

The comrades just do not have a clue.
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Sep 11, 2012

Boogie1985

For as long as this country is run by un-educated cadres with honorary PhD's then its useless to be educated. Thousands of graduates are sitting at home, dying of frustrations while the connected non-academics are running the show. How will i as a B Com hnrs graduate find a job when the person who is employing has only matric??????? Academics are secure in terms of employment in any other country but S.A
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Sep 11, 2012

Danielrjvvuren

Boogie1985

Bcom Honors in what? It doesn't help you cry fowl if you have honors management and how can you an educated man say such a thing about education? Having a degree does not guarantee a job but the application of the knowledge you receive does. Prof Jansen has this to say to you then:

http://www.timeslive.co.za/opinion/columnists/2012/06/21/the-big-read-dear-jobless-graduate
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Sep 11, 2012

MOKOPANEDUDE

I think education system does'nt prepare graduate to working environment,cos what apartheid did recent govt.continued frm that the likes of OBR,intruduction of useless Levels at Fet colleges and the worrying factor is that govt must come up with a plan to deal with graduates placement and do away with so called internship or those went through that must be employed by that particular Dept
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Sep 11, 2012

Dandan

@Boogie1985
For as long as this country is run by un-educated cadres with honorary PhD's then its useless to be educated. Thousands of graduates are sitting at home, dying of frustrations while the connected non-academics are running the show. How will i as a B Com hnrs graduate find a job when the person who is employing has only matric??????? Academics are secure in terms of employment in any other country but S.A
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you are lying how can you have Bcom hons without job, where did you buy the certificate, in Hillbrow from nigerians, if you did nt you would have your own business moss like car wash,chisa nyama,etc
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Sep 11, 2012

KeRataBasadi

Again, we all know what the problems are, can ppl start doing what needs to be done and quit stating the obvious.
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