MEC urges youth to apply for verification officer posts
YOUTH in the Northern Cape have been encouraged to apply for employment as verification officers.
The MEC for Agriculture, Environmental Affairs, Land Reform and Rural Development, Mase Manopole, said that this youth employment initiative forms part of the Presidential Employment Stimulus Programme.
“Minister Thoko Didiza announced recently that about R1 billion has been set aside to support 75,000 small-scale farmers whose production was disrupted by the Covid-19 pandemic,” said Manopole.
She said he aim of the programme is to unearth a passion for agriculture in the youth.
“The implementation of the Presidential Employment Stimulus Programme is aimed at sustaining and increasing employment in the agricultural sector by supporting around 75,000 subsistence farmers in the whole country, with farming input vouchers.
“Successful applicants will be
employed as verification officers and will assist in the implementation of the Presidential Employment Stimulus Programme,” said Manopole.
She urged all those who qualify to urgently complete their applications.
The principle of first come,
first served will apply per province and so Manopole has called on all qualifying Northern Cape youth to take advantage of this opportunity and start applying on Thursday, December 10, 2020.
The recruitment process will be centralised at national office, however, provinces will benefit in the initiative.
“During the implementation of this programme, unemployed Narysec (National Rural Youth Service Corps) youth and unemployed agricultural graduates are encouraged to apply. This youth employment initiative will support the creation of almost 6,000 temporary jobs,” Manople said.
She added that the application process is easy and affordable.
“Cellphones are the simplest, most affordable and accessible way to access all South Africans and it is the reason why the application process will be done in an automated fashion,” said Manopole.
“Applications will be done via a USSD code which is*134*4536# and will be free. Application forms will also be available and accessible in all 11 official languages once you enter the USSD code.
“Applicants who will be considered must be 18 years or older, in possession of a South African identity document (ID), not employed by government, currently actively involved in agricultural production and not have received DALRRD support in the current financial year.
“Applicants should note that only one application per household will be accepted.”
Manopole said the closing date for applications is December 22, 2020 and applicants will know the status of their application in January 2021.