By Thapelo Molefe
Gauteng Premier Panyaza Lesufi says more than 2,500 young people trained in plumbing, welding, carpentry, electrical work and construction will be deployed to help repair Gauteng’s schools, hospitals and public infrastructure as part of the province’s Unemployed Youth Skills Development Initiative (UYSDI).
Speaking at a graduation ceremony for participants of the programme on Sunday, Lesufi said the initiative was aimed at tackling youth unemployment while addressing deteriorating infrastructure across the province.
“Over 2,600 of these young people will have the skills that will make them sustainable forever,” Lesufi said.
The graduates received certificates after completing hands-on training at 71 technical high schools across Gauteng.
Lesufi said the provincial government wanted to move away from relying on tenders to fix infrastructure problems and instead use trained young people to carry out maintenance work.
“We want to send you to all our schools in Gauteng. Welding is needed where? Carpentry is needed where? So that we fix this problem using your skills, not using tenders, because tenders are creating problems for ourselves,” he said.
He added that graduates would also be deployed to hospitals to repair damaged ceilings, paving, fencing and other infrastructure issues.
“We don’t need a tender for that. We need skills for that. And we need young people to go and assist us to change their lives forever,” Lesufi said.
The premier also announced plans to expand the programme from 2,600 participants to 5,000.
“I want more. We are moving from 2,600. I want 5,000 now,” he said.
Some graduates shared emotional testimonies about how the programme had changed their lives.
Participant Sibusiso Ngcobo said the training restored his confidence after struggling with unemployment.
“It wasn’t easy. We all remember how it was being unemployed, especially as a gent. It’s not easy,” Ngcobo said.
He said he recently used his electrical training to help repair faulty wiring at a neighbour’s home in Soweto.
“So, Mr Premier, you didn’t just give us skills. You gave us purpose, and I’m grateful for that,” he said.
Another graduate, Thapelo Gumede, said he had dropped out of school in Grade 11 and had struggled to find opportunities before joining the programme.
“After receiving this programme, I feel like my life is changing,” Gumede said.
Lesufi said the province intended to use skilled young people in future infrastructure projects, including the planned high-speed rail line between Gauteng and Limpopo.
“There is a speed train that will move from here to Polokwane in 67 minutes. When we build that train, I don’t want anyone to hire somewhere else; they are going to hire you,” he said.
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