Gauteng Provincial Government Rejects Claims on Youth Employment
BY : CHANON LECODEY MERRICKS ONLINE EDITOR KASiBC_AFRiCA
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Gauteng Provincial Government rejects DA claims on Youth Employment efforts
The Gauteng Provincial Government rejects with contempt the misleading and opportunistic claims by the Democratic Alliance (DA) that Gauteng Premier, Panyaza Lesufi, has failed to create a conducive environment for youth employment.
The DA continues to ignore the practical interventions and large-scale programmes implemented by the Gauteng Provincial Government to confront the challenge of youth unemployment head-on. The reality is that the provincial government has consistently prioritised skills development, innovation, entrepreneurship, and economic inclusion as part of building a capable and employable young generation.
Just this past weekend, Premier Lesufi presided over the certification ceremony of more than 3 000 young people who successfully completed various accredited skills development and training programmes aimed at preparing them to enter the job market and participate meaningfully in the economy.
These programmes form part of the Gauteng Provincial Government’s broader strategy to equip young people with relevant and future-oriented skills that respond directly to the demands of industry and the evolving world of work. The province partnered with reputable institutions like the Sci-Bono Discovery Centre and the Matthew Goniwe School of Leadership and Governance (MGSLG), as well as industry partners that include the South African Institute of Electrical Engineers (SAIEE), the National Home Builders Registration Council (NHBRC), and the Electrical Contractors’ Association of South Africa (ECASA).
The graduates were trained in various sectors including technology, artisan development, digital skills, entrepreneurship, construction, and other high-demand industries identified as critical to economic growth and employment creation.
This milestone is not an isolated intervention, but part of a sustained provincial programme that includes:
• Expansion of Schools of Specialisation;
• Township Economic Development initiatives;
• Youth empowerment programmes;
• Partnerships with the private sector and training institutions;
• Investment promotion initiatives aimed at attracting industries that create jobs for young people.
• Nasi Ispani employment creation initiative The popular Nasi iSpani initiative has successfully created both long-term and temporary employment opportunities for thousands of young people, equipping them with valuable skills and hands-on experience.
Through this initiative, thousands of young people have gained access to on-thejob training, stipends, internships, and job placements in government departments and related sectors. It serves as a launchpad for career growth, supports service delivery, and helps address youth unemployment.
The desperate propaganda of the DA is contradicted by the facts and figures. There was a time when the DA championed the idea that the private sector is the primary driver of jobs and economic growth, and that the government’s role is to create an "enabling environment" for that growth to occur.
For years, its economic policy focused on "unleashing" the private sector rather than relying on the state to directly create employment. It is therefore surprising that the DA has conveniently ignored its own principles when analysing Gauteng’s economic and employment creation efforts.
This year, the province secured over R205.6 billion in new investment pledges, surpassing its R200 billion target. This follows the 2025 conference, which secured R312.5 billion, bringing the province’s two-year cumulative investment to over R518 billion, moving quickly toward an ambitious R800 billion target. Of this amount, R73 billion has moved from commitment to implementation, creating 114,000 jobs across multiple sectors.
This is the proof that the private sector, championed and prioritised by the DA in its economic literature, has given a resounding endorsement to the Gauteng provincial government’s efforts to create an enabling environment for investment and job creation. The provincial government is using both public and private sector initiatives to fight youth unemployment. Under Premier Lesufi’s leadership, Gauteng has intensified efforts to position itself as the economic engine of South Africa while ensuring that young people are not left behind in the province’s growth agenda.
The DA’s continued attempts to undermine these initiatives demonstrate a lack of appreciation for the real work being done to restore dignity and hope to thousands of unemployed young people across Gauteng.
Youth unemployment remains a national challenge that requires collective action and responsible leadership, not political point-scoring.
The Gauteng Provincial Government remains firmly committed to creating opportunities for young people through education, skills development, investment attraction, and economic transformation.
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