TACKLING JOBLESSNESS
Project to help youth
GAUTENG Premier Nomvula Mokonyane this week launched the Township Enterprise Hubs ( TEH) in Winterveldt, Tshwane.
This, according to the Gauteng provincial government, is one of its projects aimed at reducing youth unemployment.
The TEHs are business incubators located in six economically-deprived zones around the province. They are in Sharpeville, Thembisa, Winterveldt, Katlehong, Kagiso and Sebokeng.
The hubs will take the form of three different clusters: automotive, enterprise and industrial. These hubs will primarily target the unemployed youth through co-operatives, entrepreneurs and SMEs.
“The hubs will complement other initiatives by the province as we intensify our fight against joblessness among young people,” says Mokonyane.
The provincial department of economic development, in partnership with the University of Johannesburg, is also working with a Swiss company called Watches of Switzerland to establish a school that will offer training in designing watches.
Plans are already in place to send a group of young people to Italy in September to acquire jewellery manufacturing skills. This programme is linked to the jewellery manufacturing precinct that will be based at OR Tambo International Airport.
To assist the youth apply for jobs in government, the province has also launched the Professional Job Centre at the Thusong Centre located at the Maponya Mall in Soweto. This facility has managed to bring government recruitment closer to thousands of people in the township.
“While these efforts may seem a drop in the ocean, we are positive that we will make a dent in youth joblessness by working together with all stakeholders. After all, unemployment is everyone’s problem,” Mokonyane says.