Pretoria - Zivuseni Reloaded -- a R140 million job creation initiative by the Gauteng province -- is expected to get over 6 000 people off the unemployment line.
Launching the initiative in Kagiso on Tuesday, Gauteng Premier Nomvula Mokonyane said youth unemployment was a problem that the country was working hard to deal with.
“Youth, and other unemployment, continues to be a challenge in this country and the symptoms of this challenge manifest themselves through crime, drug abuse and other forms of social ills.
“Addressing this challenge requires an approach anchored in the integration of the second economy into the first economy to eliminate the dualism of the economy. Zivuseni Reloaded is an intervention that will assist in addressing this challenge,” she said.
Infrastructure Development MEC Qedani Mahlangu said the R140 million has been allocated to spearhead the jobs initiative -- which is an Expanded Public Works Progamme (EPWP) -- this financial year.
“Zivuseni Reloaded is aimed at creating focused opportunities for marginalised groupings in Gauteng including women, youth and persons with disabilities. The initiative will provide work opportunities and skills development for the … beneficiaries,” she said.
Zivuseni will offer beneficiaries short-term contracts with a duration of seven months.
“The budget for the beneficiary stipends/allowances is based on the EPWP rate of R70 per beneficiary per day. There are three tiers of payment according to levels of skill (unskilled, semi-skilled and skilled). An unskilled beneficiary is able to earn R1 610 per month,” explained Mokonyane.
Beneficiaries of the initiative will be stationed in a number of health institutions and infrastructure development regional offices. They will be involved in grass cutting, painting, plumbing, fencing, ash disposal, waste disposal and the construction of sidewalks/cycle paths.
Mother of three and a beneficiary of the programme, Rebecca Jim, said Zivuseni has made a positive change in her life.
“My husband and I were both not working and it was difficult to raise our children. But now with Zivuseni Reloaded, I have a salary and my children will not go to bed on empty stomachs,” said Jim, who is stationed at Leratong Hospital in Krugersdorp.
Another beneficiary, Mandla Mthembu from Sedibeng, said he was happy that government was doing something like this for the poor.
“It will alleviate poverty in communities and we will now also be able to do things for ourselves.”
During the next seven months, 50 beneficiaries drawn from the Kagiso community will do maintenance and refurbishment work including glazing, painting, roofing and plumbing. – SAnews.gov.za
