As the Presidential Employment Stimulus reaches a milestone of one-million participants, President Cyril Ramaphosa assured that government will continue to build on the success of the programme and expand its reach.

The Presidential Employment Stimulus was launched less than two years ago as part of government’s economic recovery plan during the Covid-19 pandemic.

Many South Africans lost their jobs as a result of the pandemic and the programme was created in response.

In his weekly newsletter to the nation, Ramaphosa attributed the achievement to a collaborative effort between government, the private sector, community-based organisations and others. 

“As we pursue economic growth to deliver decent and sustainable employment at a much larger scale, we will continue to build on the success of the Presidential Employment Stimulus and expand its reach. It is still very much needed to complement recovery of the job market. It also supports that economic recovery in important ways,” the President said.

Highlighting some of the achievements of the programme, Ramaphosa revealed that almost 600 000 young people have been placed as school assistants in over 22 000 schools across the country.

He said school management, teachers and other stakeholders all agree that school assistants have improved the learning environment in schools.

Over 140 000 subsistence farmers have received production input vouchers to assist them following the disruptions from the Covid-19 pandemic.

The Presidential Employment Stimulus is also supporting graduates with the help of universities, 26 of which are helping place unemployed graduates in work relevant to their qualifications.

“The Department of Science and Innovation has introduced a range of innovative citizen science programmes, such as the Duzi uMngeni Conservation Trust, which employs local youth as Enviro-Champs to empower communities to rehabilitate local water sources. Another programme by the department helps entrepreneurs to develop business proposals in the green economy,” explained Ramaphosa.

The President added that government wants to expand and deepen the impact of graduate hiring and he urged businesses to hire young people with newly-acquired work experience as they leave these programmes.

“Once employers see the Presidential Youth Stimulus as a place to find young talent, then we will be able to realise the full potential of this innovative and hugely successful initiative,” he said.