Editor

The South African Post Office (Sapo) partnership with non-profit organisation Nal’ibali now makes it possible for children, reading clubs, schools and libraries to collect free reading material from 508 branches throughout the country.

A year ago, the reading supplements were available at only 46 post offices. This increase has been made possible by the partnership Nal’ibali has with the post office.

Government is helping entrepreneurs ride the digital wave by sharing online marketing opportunities with them. 

Government Communication and Information System (GCIS) recently partnered with non-profit organisation Digify Africa to host the first of two free virtual digital skills masterclasses for small businesses and media entrepreneurs.

Young people in South Africa have a number of post matric opportunities provided by government to improve their lives. 

Vuk'uzenzele has compiled a list of options to explore.

Second chance programme

If you did not pass matric or dropped out of high school, the Department of Basic Education’s Second Chance Programme enables you to earn your National Senior Certificate.

Early Childhood Development (ECD) centres must continue to register with the provincial departments of Social Developments until 1 April 2022. 

This is because the migration of the ECD centres from the Department of Social Development to the Department of Basic Education is still ongoing.

Tshwane South Technical and Vocational Education and Training (TVET) College at Pretoria West Campus is the first in South Africa to have five specialist trades for artisanal skills. 

Mr Price Foundation is busy planting seeds for South Africa’s food security by training female students to be successful farmers. 

Mhlengi Ngcobo (23) is a farmer and social entrepreneur who wishes to see his community prosper. 

Ngcobo, from  Kwa-Maphumulo in northern KwaZulu-Natal, believes in imparting farming skills to youth to help them rise above poverty and realise their potential.

Childline South Africa has a new tollfree number, which is shorter and easier to remember. By dialing 116, children and adults can receive help with problems facing children, says Childline South Africa’s National Executive Officer Dumisile Nala. 

The Department of Social Development's Risiha Programme is providing much-needed support to child-headed households. 

The Minister of Social Development Lindiwe Zulu and Mpumalanga MEC for Social Development Lindiwe Ntshalintshali recently launched the community-based child protection programme in Kwa Guqa, in Emalahleni.

Risiha is a Xitsonga word for ‘resilience’.

The recent launch of the second phase of the Presidential Employment Stimulus represents great progress in our quest to create job opportunities for unemployed South Africans.

We established the employment stimulus last year to create as many opportunities as possible in the shortest possible time. This required new and innovative ways of working to implement programmes at an unprecedented speed and scale.