State takes flak over youth skills programme
MORE than 20 youths from across the province, who have been part of a skills development programme for five years, have accused government of leaving them to starve.
The majority of the youths come from areas under Amathole district while others come from the O R Tambo district.
They have been part of the National Rural Youth Service Corps (Narysec), a national youth skills development programme run by the department of rural development and land reform.
The programme, among other things, provides skills training to young people who also work on various rural infrastructure projects to acquire hands-on skills.
The 23 youths claimed they were shipped to Mount Frere earlier this month to take part in the construction of RDP houses in villages as part of their practicals.
They were placed in several colleges where they studied community home-building.
They were allegedly told the department would pay R2 180 for their accommodation, food and transport needs on top of monthly stipends of R1 320.
Yesterday, the students claimed they had been left in the lurch without money any food or money for rent. They further claimed that landlords have threatened to evict them.
The Daily Dispatch yesterday visited affected students at Dangwana village where they have been put up in homes around the village.
Nosiphiwo Mbara, 33, comes from Seymour in Nkonkobe municipality. She has been sleeping on the floor in a room she shares with eight other young women who are also part of the programme.
“I was hoping to be able to acquire a skill [in line with this programme] but now it seems like that might not even happen,” she said.
Ngqeleni-born Bonani Zongo, 31, said he was an orphan and most of his stipend went towards her younger sister’s college education.
Narysec provincial director Mandayi Rala said the youths were told there would be some “technical” delays in the disbursement of top up monies for meals and accommodation.
He said they were informed they would receive the monies on Monday. —