In a bid to provide jobs for unemployed citizens in South Africa, the Presidential Employment Stimulus Programme (PESP), led by the Department of Public Works and Infrastructure (DPWI) and the Presidencyās Project Management Office, will see government invest R12.6 billion into job creation programmes and projects this year.
One of the beneficiaries of the PESP, Lwandile Sawhule is employed as a clerk at Mavuso Primary School in Nqamakwe in the Eastern Cape, after being unemployed for five years. Sawhule.āThe programme is very important as I have been able to find a job in my community. We live in a rural area where jobs are few and far between,ā said Sawhule.
The Presidency and Department of Trade, Industry and Competition (dtic) will champion the Social Employment Fund that aims to find employment for 35 000 people. The dtic will also support 8 000 services sector development incentives.
āThe Department of Social Development (DSD) will support over 100 000 early childhood development practitioners with an investment of R588.7 million from the government for income support, job retention and registration support programmes,ā said Patricia De Lille, Minister of Public Works and Infrastructure.
The reappointment of 994 social workers is also on track, and a further 815 unemployed social workers are being recruited.
The stimulus programme will also see:
the DPWI create 1 560 job opportunities through the professional services programme
the Department of Basic Education recruit 344 933 teaching assistants and support staff for schools
the DSDās income relief, job retention and registration support programme assist 111 142 people
the Department of Agriculture, Land Reform and Rural Development provide support to 74 626 farmers through the Subsistence Producer Relief Fund
the Department of Environment, Forestry and Fisheries invest over R1.9 million to create 50 311 jobs
the Department of Sport, Arts and Culture support the creative, cultural and sport sectors in creating 34 070 jobs
the National Department of Health create 5 531 jobs by expanding the community health workers, outreach team leaders and nurses programme
the Department of Transportās Provincial Roads Maintenance Programme create 37 079 job opportunities
the Department of Cooperative Governance and Traditional Affairs create 25 000 jobs
the Department of Science and Innovationās graduate programmes create 1 900 jobs
5 000 youth-owned enterprises being supported by the Department of Women, Youth and Persons with Disabilities and
provincial governments contributing 50 000 jobs and metros 32 663.
