Second phase of employment stimulus project under way

THE Presidency has lauded the government’s employment stimulus for being without “a whiff of corruption” despite billions of rand being pumped into the programme.

Phase 2 of the Presidential Employment Stimulus has begun implementation with a total of R11 billion allocated by the National Treasury, Minister in the Presidency Mondli Gungubele confirmed yesterday.

This massive injection of funds will support the continuation of some programmes from phase 1 of the Presidential Employment Stimulus as well as a range of new programmes.

Gungubele, together with Public Works and Infrastructure Minister Patricia de Lille and Employment and Labour Minister Thulas Nxesi led a media briefing to reflect on the outcomes of phase 1 of the Presidential Employment Stimulus and outline phase 2 on Thursday.

The Presidential Employment Stimulus was announced by President Cyril Ramaphosa in October last year as part of the government’s response to the economic impact of the pandemic.

Gungubele said that more than 550 000 jobs and livelihoods had been supported to date as part of phase 1, with an overall target of 694 120 opportunities.

He said several programmes were still in implementation, and they expected this number to increase.

“The first phase of the employment stimulus has provided valuable lessons for what we can achieve if we set our ambitions higher, if we forge strong partnerships with organisations across society, and if we work together across government,” he said.

Gungubele said the recruitment of 287 000 young people as school assistants was already under way and participants would be placed in November.

Phase 2 will include the establishment of a new Social Employment Fund and will also support the Presidential Youth Employment Intervention, including the establishment of the national Pathway Management Network, the revitalisation of the National Youth Service, and a new model of skills training for unemployed youth linked to employment.

“Unemployment is the single greatest challenge that we must confront as a society,” he said.