News24 reports that President Cyril Ramaphosa has described the high unemployment rate among the youth in SA as "a shame on our country's conscience".
Addressing several hundred people during the 16 June Youth Day commemoration in Polokwane on Sunday, Ramaphosa said it was the youth who reminded the nation that liberation of the country was not complete if millions of people were still living in poverty and were jobless. He related that over the last few months he had spoken to many people about their problems and challenges and they had told him “of the indignity of waking up each morning, hoping that [today] will be the day that they find work or some opportunity to change their lives, only to be disappointed day-in and day-out.” They had also told him of their despondency of having to sit at home despite having university degrees or diplomas because they did not have work experience. However, Ramaphosa also spoke of other young people who had become innovative and were now successful entrepreneurs and he encouraged young people to continue to create employment for themselves. On education, Ramaphosa said the government would continue to strengthen TVET colleges for young people to gain technical skills to develop the economy.
- Read the full original of Russel Molefe’s report on the above at News24
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