Cape Town – Minister Malusi Gigaba says government has partnered with youth organisations and business to ensure that youth development is prioritised.
Chairing a media briefing of the Governance and Administration Cluster on Sunday, the Minister said the partnerships were forged to mitigate the challenge of youth unemployment.
“In this regard, President Jacob Zuma launched the Presidential Youth Working Group in June 2015, to promote youth participation in governance and policymaking and to mainstream youth development and empowerment in the work of government, to build a better life for young people.
“In taking forward the work of the Presidential Youth Working Group, the Department of Performance, Monitoring and Evaluation established the following work streams: Economic Participation and Transformation Education; Skills and Second Chances; Health Care and Combating Substance Abuse; Nation-Building and Social Cohesion, and Effective and Responsive Youth Development Institutions,” he said.
The Minister’s announcement comes not long after Minister in the Presidency, Jeff Radebe, accompanied by Deputy Minister Buti Manamela, signed the National Youth Policy in Khayelitsha, in the Western Cape.
The policy framework, which was signed after a lengthy consultative process, also identified partnerships with all sectors of the society as a way of advancing youth development.
Minister Gigaba said on Sunday that the plans of the Presidential Youth Working Group’s work streams would form part of the Integrated Youth Development Strategy and progress will also be included in the MTSF for proper monitoring and evaluation.
“The process to amend the National Youth Development Agency Act, 2008 (Act 54 of 2008), is ongoing.
“A draft Bill is currently with the State Law Advisors,” he said.
Interventions implemented to fast-track NDP implementation
The Minister said, meanwhile, that interventions had been implemented to assist in fast-tracking several NDP imperatives, which include growing the economy by a desirable Growth Domestic Product (GDP) rate, creating jobs and eradicating poverty and inequality.
He said these were implemented using government’s Medium Term Strategic Framework 2014-19, which Cabinet adopted last year.
“The current initiatives to stimulate growth include government’s Infrastructure Build Programme, the War Room on electricity, Operation Phakisa on the Ocean Economy and in Mining, and the Nine-Point Plan to boost economic growth and create jobs,” he said.
The Minister also said that there were other reports showing success linked to the implementation of the framework.
A report on education and skills development showed that tremendous progress was made in the education sectors which continue to be a priority area of focus.
Under rural development and land reform, progress on land acquisition for smallholders has been slow, but government’s implementation of programmes are being reviewed and strengthened to resolve some of these issues.
Minister Gigaba said under health, South Africa has received worldwide recognition for its HIV and Aids programme, which has over three million people initiated on treatment, contributing to the attainment of the Millennium Development Goals.
“Good progress is being made [under safety and security] regarding the reduction of overall levels of serious crime.
“The department is implementing Operation Fiela-Reclaim, to rid our country of illegal weapons, drug dens, prostitution rings and other illegal activities.
“This multidisciplinary interdepartmental operation is contributing to the safety and security of our communities.” – SAnews.gov.za
