Publisher

South Africa’s youth are urged to seize opportunities and not give up on establishing their own small businesses. Encouraging young people to persevere, National Youth Development Agency (NYDA) Chief Executive Steven Ngubeni said “it’s too early to give up and be hopeless”.

Ms Bongi Dumakude, is a young woman with technical veins in her system. She speaks about gaining practical training and knowledge on the workings of medical gas, air conditioning, refrigerators and fitters at the Chris Hani Baragwanath Hospital where she contributes to the preservation of precious life.

"If we work with the environment, the environment will work for us," said the Minister of Water and Environmental Affairs, Edna Molewa. She was introducing an eco-friendly furniture factory as part of National Parks Week recently. The factory not only provides jobs to local people, but also develops skills.

Young people, mostly from the Northern Cape, have the assurance that they will get jobs after completing their training as artisans. The Artisan Training Programme is an initiative of the Department of Public Works' Extended Public Works Programme, which aims to create employment, especially for the youth.

Budget votes

MomConnect, launched by the Department of Health, is yielding positive results.

Budget votes

Small Business Development Minister Lindiwe Zulu said this year, the department will work hard to ensure that more support is given to the informal sector.

Budget votes

Social Development Minister Bathabile Dlamini has widened the social security net for child grant recipients.

Budget votes

Corporative Governance and Traditional Affairs Minister Pravin Gordhan has called on citizens to pay for basic services that they receive from municipalities.

Budget votes

The Department of Trade and Industry’s (the dti) efforts to revive the clothing, textiles, leather and footwear sector are already showing good signs of recovery. 

Justice and Correctional Services Minister Michael Masutha says efforts by correctional services facilities to make a positive contribution to community development are progressing well.