CARING FOR THE ENVIRONMENT
TAKING TREES SERIOUSLY
A story in a magazine about how people in Australia were struggling to breathe fresh air because of a lack of trees changed Abel Nkuna's life.
Nkuna of Dan Village in Tzaneen, Limpopo, knew nothing about trees and their importance in our everyday lives. He spent his working life as a buyer and seller at a building material store until he lost his job in 1998.
The overall aim of the post-school skills development plan is to improve the skills of people entering the job market or those who are employed but need to improve their skills.
MANAGING YOUR MONEY
DON'T HIDE FROM DEBT GET COUNSELLING
A funny radio advert is on air. It is about a man who gets a call from a call-centre demanding payment for an instalment he didn't pay. When he hears the call is about the money he owes, he pretends his phone is on voicemail and asks the caller to leave a message.
SUCCESS IN THE TOURISM BUSINESS
A BACKPACKER LODGE COMES TO LIFE AND MANY BENEFIT
You must chase your dreams no matter what, says Lebohang Malepa, owner of the well-known Lebo's Soweto Backpackers. "Don't give up even if it seems impossible and you don't know how or where to begin," he said.
Selling crafts
GAUTENG
Unemployed youth living in three of Johannesburg's most disadvantaged townships will get help to improve their lives when the city opens three Youth Advisory Centres. Services provided by these centres will help youths in Ivory Park, Orange Farm and Diepsloot to develop their business skills and raise their chances of getting jobs or opening businesses. The centres are set up through an agreement between the city and the Umsobomvu Youth Fund.
- BuaNews
WESTERN CAPE
President Zuma has promised that his administration would do things differently and faster. The Presidential Hotline is one of the things he initiated to promote a government that is accessible, cares about its people and responds to complaints and queries from the public.
Main complaints
Getting rid of poverty through social grants is one of government's main aims towards building a better life for all. People who want to apply for social grants are therefore urged to apply through the South 
African Social Security Agency (SASSA) only, and not through any unauthorised persons or organisations.
SKILLS DEVELOPMENT
FROM UNEMPLOYED MECHANIC TO MENTOR AND TEACHER
Simon Ndlovu, a motorbike mechanic from Soweto, found himself without a job when a number of companies he worked for closed down. His only choice was to start his own business fixing bikes.
"Losing my job has been a blessing. I regret not having started my own business a long time ago", he said.
YOUTH
TOURISM OFFERS A HOST OF CAREERS
As part of plans to develop skills in the country, especially in the tourism sector, a school to train chefs was started in Pretoria in February.
Presidency
Opened by Deputy President, Phumzile Mlambo-Ngcuka, the Compass Group Chef Academy, is supported by the Presidency under the Joint Initiative for Priority Skills Acquisition (Jipsa).
