BizNews reports that former deputy finance minister, Mcebisi Jonas says SA’s 70% youth joblessness is begging the government and the private sector to get over their mistrust and antagonism of one another.  

He was speaking at the launch of a series of reports by the Centre for Development Enterprise (CDE) that deal with tackling youth unemployment.  Jonas said youth unemployment was a national crisis and new, radical measures should be taken to confront it.  While policy uncertainty, ANC party-infighting and corruption were responsible for major corporates sitting on R1.4 trillion that could jump-start the economy, Zuptoid state capture has also put paid to several pragmatic, hugely innovative job creation initiatives.  One such example is the now-stalled Youth Employment Service Programme aimed at creating 330,000 jobs a year.  A joint initiative of top business leaders, it was aimed at creating internships to boost township economies.

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