PRESIDENCY officials had their hands full yesterday when frustrated youth expressed anger with the ANC-led government's failure to implement policies that focus on their needs.
This was when the presidency, together with the Gauteng government, visited Cosmo City, north of Johannesburg, to encourage the youth to be involved in the formulation of the drafting of the National Youth Policy 2014-2019 to be released next month.
Some complained about how foreign-owned businesses flourished while the youth with ideas and eager to be entrepreneurs were being blocked by red-tape. The meeting was addressed by Gauteng MEC for education Panyaza Lesufi, who reassured them that government would do its best to deal with their challenges.
A youth member from Sedibeng region, Mike Ramaja, suggested that the economic empowerment touted by government over the years was only on paper. "The approach is on paper . now there is another policy. When are we going to talk about implementation?" he charged .
The policy seeks to, amongst others, deal with the high youth unemployment rate (which is at 67%), with various proposals including forcing companies to hire 50% of employees aged between 18 and 35. Ramaja pointed out that red tape was in the way of those who wanted to become entrepreneurs while it was so easy for foreign nationals to own businesses.
"These Pakistanis don't have business plans. They just go [and] buy the goods and sell them. A concern to me as a young person trying to do business is that I'm being sent from pillar to post. It's a challenge," said Ramaja.
His sentiments were echoed by another youth activist from Cosmo City.
"We are jealous because they [foreigners] are more practical. We need to be practical. Banks ask us for business plans and SARS wants tax certificates."
Ramaja and other youth delegates were scathing towards the National Youth development Agency (NYDA), saying it was unknown in townships.
Walter Maluleke said: "There is no youth centre in Lenasia, there is no NYDA, but there is nyaope. We don't know about NYDA, we know about nyaope - please help us."
For more stories like this one, be sure to buy the Sowetan newspaper from Mondays to Fridays
Youths give the state an earful
PRESIDENCY officials had their hands full yesterday when frustrated youth expressed anger with the ANC-led government's failure to implement policies that focus on their needs.
This was when the presidency, together with the Gauteng government, visited Cosmo City, north of Johannesburg, to encourage the youth to be involved in the formulation of the drafting of the National Youth Policy 2014-2019 to be released next month.
Some complained about how foreign-owned businesses flourished while the youth with ideas and eager to be entrepreneurs were being blocked by red-tape. The meeting was addressed by Gauteng MEC for education Panyaza Lesufi, who reassured them that government would do its best to deal with their challenges.
A youth member from Sedibeng region, Mike Ramaja, suggested that the economic empowerment touted by government over the years was only on paper. "The approach is on paper . now there is another policy. When are we going to talk about implementation?" he charged .
The policy seeks to, amongst others, deal with the high youth unemployment rate (which is at 67%), with various proposals including forcing companies to hire 50% of employees aged between 18 and 35. Ramaja pointed out that red tape was in the way of those who wanted to become entrepreneurs while it was so easy for foreign nationals to own businesses.
"These Pakistanis don't have business plans. They just go [and] buy the goods and sell them. A concern to me as a young person trying to do business is that I'm being sent from pillar to post. It's a challenge," said Ramaja.
His sentiments were echoed by another youth activist from Cosmo City.
"We are jealous because they [foreigners] are more practical. We need to be practical. Banks ask us for business plans and SARS wants tax certificates."
Ramaja and other youth delegates were scathing towards the National Youth development Agency (NYDA), saying it was unknown in townships.
Walter Maluleke said: "There is no youth centre in Lenasia, there is no NYDA, but there is nyaope. We don't know about NYDA, we know about nyaope - please help us."
For more stories like this one, be sure to buy the Sowetan newspaper from Mondays to Fridays
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