Lerato Mbhiza
Gauteng Premier Panyaza Lesufi’s promises to give out appointment letters to scores of youth, left many frustrated after the ceremony in Dobsonville was postponed.
It is not clear whether the cancellation was published but Lesufi had promised to dish out 32 000 appointment letters to the youth of Soweto in line with his Nasi Ispani project but scores left empty-handed after the event was postponed.
Musa Ndlovu said he was disappointed for coming all the way for nothing.
“I borrowed money to come here. I’m really disappointed because when they want to vote they will come back to us. The government needs to do the right things”.
Nelly Baloyi said she found the whole situation frustrating because she saw the postponement letter from the provincial government and thought it was a scam to make people not come.
“I’m hurting because I used my last money to come to Dobsonville, and now this happens. These people don’t take us seriously”.
Boikanyo Mohlala said he used his last money to come and collect the appointment letter.
“I’m disappointed because I had high hopes for today .. Being unemployed is painful. I hope the premier will do what is right. Being unemployed is painful I hope he knows”.
Since its launch in June 2023, Nasi Ispani initiative is part of the Gauteng provincial government’s project to reduce unemployment in the province.
Lesufi had in July last year, handed over 50,000 employment offers to job applicants at Orlando Stadium in Soweto.
Addressing the crowd, he said the handover had to be done in a stadium and publicly acknowledged to prevent any possible corruption in letters being handed over to other people’s friends or relatives.
“We didn’t want to do it in the corners and offices because people can take your appointment letter and give it to their friends.
“We didn’t want to do it via email because emails can be hijacked and sent to the wrong people. We want to do it here, open to everyone,” said Lesufi.
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