On 22 June, the Department of Tourism, in conjunction with the Department of Small Business Development and the Free State Department of Economic Development, Small Business, Tourism and Environment Affairs (DESTEA), organized a community engagement event in Botshabelo, Mangaung. The aim was to provide the youth of Botshabelo with opportunities to upskill and empower themselves in the tourism sector.
In June each year, Mangaung, Free State Province, South Africa commemorates the 47th anniversary of the 1976 student uprising. This historical moment has inspired a new initiative to empower and uplift the youth of today through tourism. The Department of Tourism, in collaboration with the Department of Small Business Development and the Free State Department of Economic Development, Small Business, Tourism, and Environment Affairs (DESTEA), has announced a community engagement event to discuss opportunities for upskilling and empowering the youth in the tourism sector.
National Youth Day is a significant event in South Africa’s history, celebrated on June 16th each year. This year marks the 47th anniversary of the uprising led by courageous young men and women who stood against the inhumane apartheid regime. As we commemorate their sacrifices, we also look forward to the future of South African youth and their contributions to the country’s ongoing development.
In recent times, the Western Cape’s youth have been in the limelight. Premier Alan Winde proudly highlights the government’s dedication to empowering young talent. During a digital conference, six individuals who are a part of various Western Cape Government (WCG) programs shared their dreams and how these initiatives have played a significant role in their lives.
The Department of Employment and Labour is set to host a Youth Month Career Exhibition in Mkhondo on June 19th. The event is aimed at empowering young people economically and creating a sustainable future for them. ### Joint Effort for Accelerating Youth Economic Emancipation
The Western Cape Government (WCG) of South Africa is dedicated to supporting and uplifting the youth by addressing the challenges they face, including unemployment. As the nation celebrates Youth Day on June 16th every year, the WCG is proactively seeking ways to engage with young people and help them realize their full potential.
President Cyril Ramaphosa is committed to empowering the youth of South Africa through various employment initiatives and readinesstowork programs. These initiatives provide young individuals with opportunities for capacitation, funding, and mentorship to accelerate youth economic emancipation for a sustainable future. Among these initiatives is the Presidential Youth Employment Initiative, which has achieved several milestones since its inception.
The Department of Employment and Labour in the North West, in collaboration with the National Youth Development Agency, Harambee, SA Youth, Youth Employment, and the Government of the North West Province, hosted a Youth Employment Roadshow initiative at Ratlou Local Municipality on June 2, 2023. The event aimed to tackle unemployment and empower the youth by offering a range of services to the young and unemployed.
In celebration of Youth Month, Tertuis Simmers, the Provincial Minister of Infrastructure, visited Conradie Park, one of the Department’s flagship projects. The site serves as a training ground for learners in the Apprenticeship Programme, aimed at nurturing the growth of 100 young individuals over three years, with a focus on fieldbased training.
In commemoration of Youth Month, Deputy Minister Philly Mapulane spoke at the Limpopo Digital Summit. The theme for the 2023 Youth Month is “Accelerating youth economic emancipation for a sustainable future,” which reflects the importance of empowering the youth in South Africa’s journey towards progress.
South Africa’s youth are looking forward to a lifechanging experience at the upcoming SA Youth Opportunities Roadshow on June 2, 2023. The Harambee Youth Employment Accelerator, in collaboration with the Department of Employment and Labour, National Youth Development Agency (NYDA), Youth Employment Service (YES) South Africa, and the North West Office of the Premier, is organizing the event. The roadshow will take place in Setlagole, Ratlou Local Municipality, and will feature Viola Motsumi, the MEC for the Department of Education, as a speaker.
In the midst of gang violence and drug abuse in Cape Town, Hanover Park Bicycles for Change (HPBFC) has taken on a unique mission to create a safer environment. By offering constructive alternatives to gangsterism and drugs, particularly for the younger generation, the initiative is steering the community towards a brighter future.
The City of Cape Town, through the Expanded Public Works Programme (EPWP), has launched the Youth Literacy and Life Skills Programme to support the youth and bridge the education gap in disadvantaged communities. The programme aims to train 44 beneficiaries as literacy tutors and life skills coaches in order to pave the way for a brighter future for the younger generation.
The Government Communication and Information System (GCIS) is organizing a twoday youth engagement program in KaMaqhekeza Township, located in Nkomazi Local Municipality, Mpumalanga province. The event is aimed at empowering South African citizens, especially the youth, by providing them access to government information.
South Africa is taking a big step towards enhancing science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM) education in the region. Thanks to the collaboration between Deputy Minister of Higher Education, Science and Innovation, Mr Buti Manamela, and multinational company Sasol, the University of Mpumalanga will receive a mobile science laboratory on May 17th.
On May 13th, the Deputy Minister of Social Development, Mme Hendrietta BogopaneZulu, in collaboration with USAID, will launch ChommY. This pioneering program aims to empower children aged between 10 and 14 years from Ekurhuleni hostels. The initiative will be launched at the Vosloorus Civic Centre under the theme “Invest in my Future…Protect me Today.”
