Ending gender-based violence and femicide (GBVF) is one of the most important areas in which The Presidency has been involved, says President Cyril Ramaphosa.
“We have held two Presidential Summits to bring together government, civil society and other stakeholders to forge a common national response to this pandemic,” President Ramaphosa said, speaking during The Presidency's Budget Vote in Parliament, Cape Town.
President Ramaphosa said government has been implementing the National Strategic Plan (NSP) against the scourge.
The NSP aims to provide a multi-sectoral, coherent strategic policy and programming framework to strengthen a coordinated national response to GBVF by government and the country as a whole.
The strategy seeks to address the needs and challenges faced by all, especially women across age, sexual orientation, sexual and gender identities; and specific groups such as elderly women, women who live with disability, migrant women and trans women, affected and impacted by the gender-based violence scourge.
“As part of this plan, we have focused on prevention measures, such as educating boys and young men on gender equality and their roles in empowering girls and young women,” President Ramaphosa said.
State capture
The President said government has also made important progress in implementing the actions outlined in the response to the recommendations of the State Capture Commission.
“The Presidency plays a pivotal role in ensuring that the work of the Special Investigating Unit has an impact, and that individuals involved in wrongdoing face the consequences of their actions.
“The Presidency has forged a close working relationship with the SIU and law enforcement agencies to monitor the implementation of the recommendations for criminal, disciplinary and administrative action arising from SIU investigations.
“The Presidency forms an integral part of international relations and cooperation, leading the country’s representation in international fora and in bilateral and multilateral engagements,” President Ramaphosa said.
Youth unemployment
The President said The Presidency remained seized with the challenge of youth unemployment.
“Nearly four years ago, in the wake of the COVID-19 pandemic, we launched the Presidential Employment Stimulus, which has created two million work and livelihood opportunities.
“Two-thirds of the people who have participated in these programmes are women, and around 84 percent are between the ages of 18 and 35,” President Ramaphosa said.
The Youth Employment Service, which was launched together with the private sector in 2018, is gaining significant momentum having created over 150 000 work experience opportunities for young people.
“As we go forward, we will look to our partners in business to put greater emphasis on our agreed programme of work on employment. This includes measures to support SMMEs in townships and rural areas, creating new jobs in areas like tourism, agriculture and green energy, and providing work experience and demand-led training to young people.
“Another initiative is the Presidential Youth Employment Intervention. Central to this is SAYouth.mobi, which is a zero-rated platform for unemployed young people to access opportunities for learning and earning,” he said. SAnews.gov.za
