introduction of a national
investment in higher education
the economy. A million of these
minimum wage to reduce wage
is expected to contribute to
internships will be created in
inequality while maintaining
economic growth, reduced
the next three years.
economic growth and job
poverty and inequality,
creation.
enhanced earnings and better
Summit would be convened
The President will appoint a
economic competitiveness.
in the coming months to align
Presidential Economic Advisory
He then singled out youth
He announced that a Jobs
the efforts of all sectors and
Council that will draw on the
unemployment as one of
stakeholders in job creation
expertise of labour, business,
the country’s most pressing
efforts.
civil society and academics in
challenges, adding young
order to implement economic
South Africans had to be
what we need to do to ensure
policy coherently and
moved to the centre of South
our economy grows and
consistently and ensure the
Africa’s economic agenda.
becomes more productive,
ability to respond to changing
The youth represent the
The President said government is intent on giving attention to the youth, from the age of early learning right through to the time of tertiary education,
that companies invest on a far greater scale, that workers are
economic circumstances.
Focus on the youth
“The summit will look at
“Now is the time to lend a hand. Now is the time for each of us to say ‘send me’ .”
better equipped, and that our infrastructure is expanded.” “We will expect it to come up with practical solutions and initiatives for immediate implementation,” said the President. President Ramaphosa said he
work experience and greater proportion of the labour
was determined to improve the
force working on government’s
lives of South Africans as quickly
starts with educating the
infrastructure projects, solar
as possible.
children of the poor, starting in
water heaters and the war on
early childhood,” he noted.
leaks programme.
entrepreneurship. “Breaking the cycle of poverty
Almost a million children are
“We continue to draw young
He recalled the words of the late Hugh Masekela, who in his song ‘Thuma Mina’ said: “I
in early childhood development
people in far greater numbers
wanna lend a hand, send me”,
facilities and at the other end of
into productive economic
as he anticipated a day of
the spectrum, almost a million
activity through programmes
renewal and new beginnings.
students are enrolled in higher
such as the Employment
education.
Tax Incentive,” said President
hand. Now is the time for each
Ramaphosa.
of us to say ‘send me’. Now is
This year fee-free education will be introduced among
In addition, government will
“Now is the time to lend a
the time for all of us to work
first-year students from homes
launch the Youth Employment
together, in honour of Nelson
with a gross annual household
Service Initiative that will place
Mandela, to build a new, better
income of up to R350 000.
unemployed youth in paid
South Africa for all,” urged
President Ramaphosa said this
internships in companies across
President Ramaphosa.
Public Sector Manager • March 2018
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