President Cyril Ramaphosa has made a bold promise to the young people of Langa, Cape Town. He pledged that his government would create one million jobs annually over the next five years.
In addition to this, he announced that R21 billion would be allocated towards training young individuals. Ramaphosa made these commitments during an ANC rally in Langa, where he engaged with hundreds of young people, most of whom were first-time voters.
The youth from various parts of Cape Town shared their daily frustrations with the president. These included issues such as unemployment, inadequate service delivery, and limited access to education.
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Unfortunately, statistics from Statistics SA reveal that young people between the ages of 15 and 34 remain vulnerable in the labour market. The fourth quarter of 2023 saw an increase of 87,000 unemployed youth, bringing the total to 4.7 million.
Simultaneously, the number of employed youth decreased by 97,000 to 5.9 million. Consequently, the youth unemployment rate rose by 0.9 percentage points from 43.4% in Q3 2023 to 44.3% in Q4 2023.
Ramaphosa assured the young people that the ANC’s manifesto prioritizes youth unemployment and that it would be the party’s primary focus over the next five years if re-elected.
He emphasized the importance of job creation and acknowledged that the majority of unemployed individuals are young people. However, he also recognized that there are many individuals aged 35 and older who are also without work.
Responding to the scepticism expressed by some attendees, Ramaphosa stressed the need for evidence-based assessments. He highlighted the progress made since the ANC came into power in 1994, with the number of employed individuals increasing from 8 million to 16.7 million.
Building on this momentum, Ramaphosa outlined the party’s plan to create 5 million jobs in the next five years.
Achieving the target of one million jobs annually would be a significant accomplishment, considering that the economy has historically only managed to generate around 600,000 jobs, even during periods of 5% economic growth.
Ramaphosa further elaborated on the ANC’s commitment to investing in the youth. He announced that R21 billion would be allocated towards training young people, aiming to equip them with the necessary skills for employment.
By prioritizing training and development, the government aims to bridge the gap between available job opportunities and the skills possessed by the youth.
[WATCH] ANC President, Cde Cyril Ramaphosa addresses supporters in Langa, Cape Town Western Cape https://t.co/E8WDrxr600
— Cyril Ramaphosa 🇿🇦 (@CyrilRamaphosa) May 2, 2024
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