MEC Sibiya Committed to Placing the Youth at the Centre of the South African Economy
On 10 June 2021, MEC for Human Settlements and Public Works, Jomo Sibiya hosted more than 90 youth entrepreneurs at Greyville Convention Centre for the signing of an agreement of the Siyakha Incubation Programme which is set to guide and see to their allocated construction work. This also forms part of the nationwide Youth Month activities which fall under the theme – “Growing youth employment for an inclusive and transformed society”.
The National Government also supported this initiative and was represented by Deputy Minister of Human Settlements, Water and Sanitation, Pam Tshwete. In her supporting remarks, Minister Tshwete applauded MEC Sibiya for hitting the ground running from the moment he was sworn in as MEC, “We have a national directive that was endorsed by President Cyril Ramaphosa that we ought to accelerate implementation of the 40 and 10 percent set aside for women and youth contractors. This signing ceremony of youth owned companies is a direct progressive response to that important call.” The Minister further encouraged the youth in attendance, “Please make this opportunity count, you are called upon to take this opportunity with both hands so that you can benefit from it even long after the programme has ended.”
In his keynote address, MEC Jomo Sibiya outlined the purpose of the day, “We are therefore gathered here today to declare that our main task is to use this political freedom to liberate the people of this province from the jaws of poverty and under development. By signing contractual agreements today, the young entrepreneurs are committing themselves to deepen democracy and ensure economic liberation.” MEC Sibiya further expressed his commitment towards youth empowerment, “We remain committed towards to radically transform the economy of this province for the benefit of the indigenous people, we are deliberate on this, we want the indigenous and young people of this country to be at the centre of the economy.”
More youth oriented programs and activities are to follow from both departments of Human Settlements and Public Works as directed by KwaZulu-Natal Premier Sihle Zikalala, to ensure that youth entrepreneurs in the construction sector are assisted to be leading in infrastructure revolution.
