Johnathan Paoli
THE Gauteng Provincial Government has praised the registration for the Crush noLova Jobs and Skills programme, with the department confirming that over 500 000 people have registered over the weekend.
Lesufi said despite challenges that were experienced with the Department of Employment and Labour website where applicants were supposed to apply, all unemployed applicants were assisted with manual application at the sites across the province to enable them to access employment and training opportunities.
The Premier said the provincial government was pleased with the turnout over the weekend, but that the high amount of registration applications is a testament that South Africans are struggling.
“We are indeed proud that through this programme people who today are relying on social grants and handouts from other family members will get job opportunities and necessary skills to create jobs for themselves and others,” Lesufi said.
The Crush noLova jobs and skills programme is a partnership between the Gauteng government, the national departments of Higher Education (DHET) and Employment and Labour (DEL).
The programme was launched on 6 April 2024, as an extension of Nasi iSpani, and seeks to bridge the gap between the skills supply and the demand of the evolving South African job market.
The GDE confirmed that an agreement was made with TVET colleges and skills development centres to train the successful applicants, with opportunities in this programme including training in construction, engineering, wholesale and retail, furniture manufacturing, aviation, and entrepreneurial skills, amongst others.
However, DA has called out the programme as disingenuous, with Gauteng Shadow MEC for Education Sergio Isa Dos Santos saying the programme was an insincere attempt at gaining additional votes ahead of the national and provincial elections in May.
“The lack of transparency, consultation, and short notice of this directive is concerning and raises concerns as to whether the Nasi iSpani initiative is about providing jobs and training opportunities to Gauteng youth “Not in Employment, Education, and Training” or an election tool for the current government,” Dos Santos said.
Dos Santos said while his party believed in the importance of creating job opportunities and supporting the unemployed, he maintained that this initiative must be done in consultation with all key stakeholders involved.
The EFF said the emphasis on jobs by the ruling party was motivated by the sad reality that after 30 years of attempts at addressing joblessness, more than 15 million capable South Africans who need jobs are unemployed, with no hope of significant and meaningful change.
Addressing a community meeting at the Lenasia Town Hall, EFF leader Julius Malema called on the private sector to commit itself to creating job opportunities, in light of the government’s promises.
“Government does not have money, but there are men and women here who have money, there’s Robert Gumede, there’s Patrice Motsepe, there should be many others who can come and bid in communities to build a road and create jobs,” Malema said.
Employment and Labour Minister Thulas Nxesi officially pledged R8.2 billion in investment to support the programme, in order to illustrate the government’s dedication to empowering youth and driving economic growth.
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