Partnerships are a necessity to fight unemployment

(Image: GCIS)

"The type and scope of challenges we face in the area of unemployment call for commensurate efforts from all social players, of which the private sector is the most crucial," said the Deputy President on Thursday.

Speaking at the Independent Newspapers Employment Initiatives Breakfast Launch in Johannesburg, Motlanthe said that unemployment robs South Africans of their dignity and does not only contribute to conditions of poverty but also leads to other social problems.

"Government is and has been doing everything possible to create the environment that enables the private sector to create employment. Among other such efforts is the Jobs Fund," said Motlanthe.

The Fund - which aims to explore, pilot and fund approaches for overcoming barriers to employment - was announced by President Jacob Zuma in the 2011 State of the Nation Address and was launched in June 2011 by Finance Minister Pravin Gordhan with an amount of R9bn set aside to be allocated over a five-year period.

The fund's objective

The objective of the Fund is to co-finance projects by public, private and non-governmental organisations that will significantly contribute to job creation.

"The programme has to date contracted for the placement of approximately 42,000 people in vacant job positions; and for about 105,400 people to complete work related training programmes that will enhance their chances of employment," said Motlanthe.

In the war against unemployment, government has come up with other initiatives such as the Community Works Programme and the National Rural Youth Service Corps.

The Community Works Programme provides up to 120 working days per year for unemployed young people while the National Rural Youth Service Corps has 11,500 young people enlisted to undergo training in different areas of skills and expertise for a period of two years.

The Community Works Programme has 70% women participants and 80% young people.

Reducing youth unemployment in SA

"Complementing these measures, the Independent Newspapers' Employment Initiative has the potential to make a difference in the vital areas of learnerships, apprenticeships and internships," explained Motlanthe.

The deputy president added that a lack of work experience was a constraint that hampers employment prospects for many learners.

The launch coincided with the launch event of the Social Accord on Youth Employment, in Soweto, also on Thursday.

The aim of the programme was to ensure greater alignment and integration of efforts of government and social partners in order to improve the footprint and impact of interventions to reduce youth unemployment in South Africa.