
President Cyril Ramaphosa announced that SA Youth.mobi, a free online recruitment platform, now has over 5.7 million registered users. The platform, established through the Presidential Youth Employment Intervention, aims to connect young people with jobs, training, and workplace experience opportunities. It allows young people to register at no cost and access opportunities without using mobile data, as the website is zero-rated. Ramaphosa stated that over 2 million young people registered on the platform have gained access to earning opportunities. Government-led interventions have created work and livelihood opportunities for more than 2.5 million unemployed South Africans, with 82% being young people and 66% women. The Jobs Boost Outcomes Fund pilot program enrolled over 9,000 young people, successfully placing more than 7,200 into employment. The SA Youth.mobi platform was developed through a partnership including Harambee Youth Employment Accelerator, the Department of Employment and Labour, the Department of Higher Education and Training, the National Youth Development Agency, Youth Employment Service, and the Development Bank of Southern Africa. The revitalized National Youth Service has placed over 130,000 young people in paid service opportunities, with an additional 100,000 community service youth employment opportunities currently available. The government is also reforming the skills development system to link training programs, such as those at Technical and Voc
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Must ReadBrigadier Campbell Nyuswa, the suspended Provincial Commander for Serious Organised Crime Investigation of the Hawks in KwaZulu-Natal, testified before the Madlanga commission that the theft of 541kg of suspected cocaine from the DPCI offices in Port Shepstone in November 2021 might have been a staged event. Nyuswa, who was suspended for allegedly failing to comply with legislation regarding exhibit storage, denied involvement in the theft. He distanced himself from suspended KZN Hawks head Lesetja Senona, stating their relationship was strictly professional. Nyuswa recounted how he identified the Port Shepstone offices for storing the cocaine due to secure safes, despite knowing about other security lapses. He informed Senona, who then instructed him on procedures, including taking possession of both the original and spare keys to the safe. Nyuswa expressed skepticism about the safe being breached by grinding the door, suggesting it might have been a setup, especially since the landlord had previously stated the safes could not be breached without a key. He noted that only Senona possessed the keys, leading commissioners to question if the safe was opened with a key and the grinder used as a ruse.
Must ReadSouth Africa's International Relations Minister Ronald Lamola clarified reports of xenophobic violence following a teleconference with World Health Organization Director-General Dr. Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus. Dr. Ghebreyesus had condemned a wave of xenophobic threats in South Africa, describing it as a "tragic betrayal of the country's historic struggle for freedom and justice." He also expressed sadness over reports of renewed attacks targeting foreign nationals, which he stated had left several people dead and displaced thousands. Lamola, however, stressed that recent killings are linked to organized crime rather than xenophobia. He specifically clarified that the deaths of five Ethiopian nationals were connected to organized crime within the Ethiopian community in South Africa, and that reports of five Mozambican deaths were inaccurate, with at least two confirmed and under investigation. Lamola affirmed that these incidents do not reflect the South African government's values and that perpetrators will face legal consequences. He also acknowledged irregular migration as a challenge that needs to be managed humanely and within the law, emphasizing that addressing migration challenges is a collective responsibility for the African continent. The Inter-Ministerial Committee on Migration also warned against disinformation being used to incite violence and destabilize communities, stating that such campaigns aim to damage South Africa's international reputation.
Must ReadThe Democratic Alliance has reshuffled its team within the government of national unity. Party leader Geordin Hill-Lewis announced that John Steenhuisen, formerly Minister of Agriculture, has been demoted to Deputy Minister of Trade, Industry and Competition. Willie Aucamp will replace Steenhuisen as Minister of Agriculture, with an immediate mandate to resolve ongoing legal proceedings related to Foot-and-Mouth disease and to open new markets for agricultural products. David Maynier will become Minister of Forestry, Fisheries and the Environment. Alexandra Abrahams moves to Deputy Minister of Electricity and Energy, while Yusuf Cassim is appointed Deputy Minister of Higher Education and Training. Jack Bloom will take up the position of Deputy Minister of Water and Sanitation. Hill-Lewis stated these changes reflect the DA's commitment to accountability, high performance standards, and responsiveness to South Africans' needs, aiming to enhance the party's ability to achieve an open, opportunity society.