Gauteng Premier’s Nasi iSpani drive takes off with 6 000 jobs for solar technicians

Lerato Mbhiza

Gauteng premier Panyaza Lesufi’s Nasi iSpani drive moved up a gear in Soweto on Thursday as he promised thousands more jobs to the youths at Orlando Stadium where thousands of youth had gathered to get appointment letters for training as solar panel technicians.

At the event, Lesufi announced a string of jobs for the youth and promised the provincial government would hand out 6 000 new jobs a month until July 2024.

Among these are 6,000 for solar technician trainees, he said .

In this initiative, in partnership with the Manufacturing, Engineering and Related Services Sector Education and Training Authority, trainees will be inducted in August and start training on 1 September in academic institutions.

While training, depending on academic qualifications, trainees will earn R7 000 a month

Lesufi said the youth employed during the Covid-19 pandemic, including thousands of teacher assistants, will get their jobs back.

“If