FINANCE Minister Pravin Gordhan has given the government's drive to create jobs a shot in the arm by announcing the R5 billion youth employment subsidy fund.
This is on top of the R9 billion job creation fund that President Jacob Zuma announced during the State of the Nation Address.
These initiatives are indeed major steps in the right direction when it comes to tackling the perennial high unemployment rate in this country.
What now needs to happen is a clear implementation programme that will see these funds being utilised effectively.
We say so because the government has a history of allocated funds remaining unspent due to "lack of capacity" or misspent due to corruption.
It is also important for business and labour to come on board. Cosatu has expressed its concerns about the R5 billion youth employment scheme. The federation's argument is that employers will use the scheme to get rid of older workers, resulting in net job losses.
Notwithstanding Cosatu's concern the reality is that this country needs to deal with the untenable situation where 42 percent of young people between the ages of 18 and 29 are unemployed.
Experience in countries like Egypt and Tunisia, where the unemployed youth led the revolution must serve as a warning for us. It is important that all the stakeholders heed Gordhan's words.
This country does need "to have the courage to pilot new approaches and build new partnerships" if we are to effectively deal with the situation.
Job drive up to speed
FINANCE Minister Pravin Gordhan has given the government's drive to create jobs a shot in the arm by announcing the R5 billion youth employment subsidy fund.
This is on top of the R9 billion job creation fund that President Jacob Zuma announced during the State of the Nation Address.
These initiatives are indeed major steps in the right direction when it comes to tackling the perennial high unemployment rate in this country.
What now needs to happen is a clear implementation programme that will see these funds being utilised effectively.
We say so because the government has a history of allocated funds remaining unspent due to "lack of capacity" or misspent due to corruption.
It is also important for business and labour to come on board. Cosatu has expressed its concerns about the R5 billion youth employment scheme. The federation's argument is that employers will use the scheme to get rid of older workers, resulting in net job losses.
Notwithstanding Cosatu's concern the reality is that this country needs to deal with the untenable situation where 42 percent of young people between the ages of 18 and 29 are unemployed.
Experience in countries like Egypt and Tunisia, where the unemployed youth led the revolution must serve as a warning for us. It is important that all the stakeholders heed Gordhan's words.
This country does need "to have the courage to pilot new approaches and build new partnerships" if we are to effectively deal with the situation.
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