Johannesburg - Gauteng Premier David Makhura wants professionals to join his administration in its efforts to create jobs for unemployed young people.
He made the appeal while addressing 40-year-old professionals in taking the lead on how to elevate youth entrepreneurship so that young people could contribute efficiently towards the economy.
The event was part of the national Youth Month to commemorate the 1976 Soweto uprising.
Makhura said there were about 30 000 unemployed graduates in Gauteng last year.
He outlined some of the development programmes aimed at job creation for youth development, adding that while most of the projects were small scale, the youth must use them as a springboard.
“We need to place youth development in the centre of everything we do because we do many great things but they are small and not making a difference.”
He urged the 40-year-old professionals to double the contribution they were making, including in financial literacy.
“If you have two young people working in your company, get two more and double that number.
“It is 40 years since the 1976 Soweto uprising and we need to use young people as agents for change.”
He said schools and families should teach a common national identity to encourage unity and national building.
Education MEC Panyaza Lesufi agreed, saying the focus should also be on early childhood development.
“There is now a curriculum for Grade R learners; they no longer go to school just to eat, sleep and play. We want to train their bright minds while they are still young.”
Among the professionals was Charlotte Dorfling, who said her involvement in such events had armed her with information to uplift the youth and give them hope
“1976 was a good year because today we can talk about uplifting and empowering the youth on a larger scale. It wasn’t easy for me to get opportunities when I was young, even as a white person. I want to make it better for the youth of today.”
Obakeng Madolo, the chief executive of ICT infrastructure and development company Leopa Connections, said: “Information should be made available even in vast areas, because in Mogale City, there are never such events as it is too far.”
The Star