702 People's Dialogue: Calls for revitalisation of skills development structures to help tackle unemployment
The country's latest unemployment rate is 32.9%, with most being youth.
ALSO READ: SAns at 702's People's Dialogue voice concerns about issues plaguing country
Assembly of the Unemployed coordinator, Princess Majola, said more funds were needed to address this crisis.
"Why aren't they taking that R700 million and making sure that those retrenched teachers, those unemployed doctors, they get to be paid and then services are rendered? We are having 28 schools, I know, in Soweto that have been closed because they didn't meet a threshold of having adequate learners."
A listener, Thembeka Hlongwane, added that there was a need for organisations that invest in skills development in communities.
"When are we creating structures that will really create jobs for the community, not want everyone to be a lawyer, a doctor, because we need people to use their hands. It's all good and well to say, let the government give them money, but I don't think that will be a solution to the problem we have with unemployment."
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
IOL News
10 hours ago
- IOL News
Thabo Mbeki Foundation mulls return to National Dialogue after EPG's invitation
Former president Thabo Mbeki declined an invitation to attend the first convention of the National Dialogue that was held in Pretoria at the weekend. Image: Boxer Ngwenya / Independent Newspapers The Thabo Mbeki Foundation (TMF) is reportedly mulling over a return to the National Dialogue process, following an olive branch extended by the Eminent Persons Group (EPG). This comes after several legacy foundations, including the TMF, withdrew from the First National Convention due to concerns over preparation and process two weeks ago. The foundation's withdrawal raised questions about the legitimacy of the National Dialogue process. Controversy surrounded the National Dialogue held at Unisa last Friday and Saturday, particularly concerning its alleged R700 million budget. This led to the refusal of several political parties, including the uMkhonto weSizwe Party, the EFF, and the DA, to participate. Video Player is loading. Play Video Play Unmute Current Time 0:00 / Duration -:- Loaded : 0% Stream Type LIVE Seek to live, currently behind live LIVE Remaining Time - 0:00 This is a modal window. Beginning of dialog window. Escape will cancel and close the window. Text Color White Black Red Green Blue Yellow Magenta Cyan Transparency Opaque Semi-Transparent Background Color Black White Red Green Blue Yellow Magenta Cyan Transparency Opaque Semi-Transparent Transparent Window Color Black White Red Green Blue Yellow Magenta Cyan Transparency Transparent Semi-Transparent Opaque Font Size 50% 75% 100% 125% 150% 175% 200% 300% 400% Text Edge Style None Raised Depressed Uniform Dropshadow Font Family Proportional Sans-Serif Monospace Sans-Serif Proportional Serif Monospace Serif Casual Script Small Caps Reset restore all settings to the default values Done Close Modal Dialog End of dialog window. Advertisement Next Stay Close ✕ Ad loading On Wednesday, TMF spokesperson Bongani Kupe confirmed that all of the legacy foundations had received the letter and were considering it. 'We have always said that we are open to further discussions. In the letter that we wrote to the EPG, we mentioned that we just had a few concerns, including rushing the process,' Kupe said. Other foundations refused to comment on the matter for now. In a bid to restore trust, the EPG, a group of 32 independent volunteers appointed by President Cyril Ramaphosa to support and guide the National Dialogue, formally requested a meeting with the legacy foundations in a letter addressed to the Steve Biko Foundation, Thabo Mbeki Foundation, Chief Albert Luthuli Foundation, Desmond and Leah Tutu Legacy Foundation, FW de Klerk Foundation, Oliver and Adelaide Tambo Foundation, and the Strategic Dialogue Group. The letter acknowledges the concerns raised by the foundations and expresses a desire to work together to ensure a successful and inclusive National Dialogue. 'We acknowledge the depth and seriousness of the concerns raised by the foundations,' it read. These concerns included the preservation of citizen leadership, the need for a genuinely meaningful engagement platform, transparent financial and governance arrangements, and the importance of adequate preparation over rigid timelines. The EPG stressed that these were not 'peripheral matters' but 'central to the credibility and success of the National Dialogue'. The Presidency, in statements early this month, had already recognised the historic role of these foundations in initiating and shaping the National Dialogue, noting their continued commitment to its vision and principles. The EPG echoed this sentiment, stating that the process would benefit from their 'leadership, commitment and knowledge'. The EPG reaffirmed its commitment to a 'radically inclusive, transparent, and accountable' National Dialogue and expressed a desire for the foundations' continued engagement. A delegation from the EPG has proposed a meeting at the earliest convenience to reaffirm shared principles for the Dialogue, consider joint strategies to safeguard its citizen-led nature, identify practical avenues for re-engagement, and explore governance and operational mechanisms to build confidence and transparency. The TMF's Chairperson, Geraldine Fraser-Moleketi, reiterated on Monday that the foundation's initial withdrawal was due to a perceived lack of preparation for the National Convention. She said the foundation believes that the precursor event needed a more solid basis for civil society interaction and engagement, with discussion documents drafted beforehand to provide a foundation for debate. Fraser-Moleketi also noted that 11 reports on various topics were still being prepared when the convention date was set by a group outside the preparatory task team. 'The amount of work you put into the process, the pre-dialogue, results in the quality of the outcome, and especially dealing with the complexities we currently confront in South Africa,' she stated. Fraser-Moleketi further emphasised that their withdrawal from the convention did not signify a complete boycott of the Dialogue process. 'It's never too late. Being the progenitors, we had not withdrawn from the National Dialogue. What we withdrew from was the National Convention, which we said should be given a bit more time.' Meanwhile, former president Kgalema Motlanthe has unequivocally refuted allegations that his foundation pulled out of the convention, labelling such reports as misleading and incorrect. The Kgalema Motlanthe Foundation (KMF) clarified in a statement that it was not part of the preparatory committee for the convention.
The Citizen
21 hours ago
- The Citizen
Will the National Dialogue really cost R400m?
Ramaphosa recently announced that he refused to accept the R700 million budget for the dialogue. By touting a lower figure than the amounts suggested by other stakeholders as the cost for the National Dialogue, President Cyril Ramaphosa is trying to outsmart the ANC stalwarts, particularly Thabo Mbeki. This is the view of former ANC and Cope MP Dennis Bloem, from the Activists and Citizens Forum. Claims of political manoeuvring He claims Ramaphosa is being misled by his rich business handlers to exclude others. Ramaphosa, who said the state would spend R400 million on the dialogues, wanted to steal the limelight from other leaders so that he appeared as a champion of the process, he said. The president announced recently he refused to accept the R700 million budget for the dialogue, saying he has dropped it to R400 million. ALSO READ: National Dialogue: Ramaphosa urges citizens to embrace differing views Motlanthe Foundation breaks ranks Six foundations pulled out, protesting that it should be led by citizens and opposed the rush of the process by the state. However, the Kgalema Motlanthe Foundation is not among the dialogue boycotters. In a statement, the foundation patron, Motlanthe, expressed support for the dialogue, saying he did not attend the first national convention at Unisa on Friday due to other commitments. Accuracy of figures questioned Political analyst Sandile Swana said the figures being bandied about could never be accurate unless a proper costing calculation is made, that takes into account the extent and enormity of the dialogue process. Swana suggested there should be a cost audit and that the costs should be shared between the state and private sector.
Eyewitness News
a day ago
- Eyewitness News
Malema slams National Dialogue, says people are tired of talking
JOHANNESBURG - Economic Freedom Fighters (EFF) leader Julius Malema once again dismissed the first National Convention as a sham, labelling the exercise as a waste of state resources. Malema was speaking at the weekend on the sidelines of a rally in Seshego in Limpopo, where the red berets were celebrating the party's by-election win at ward 13. His criticism of the first National Convention comes after repeated concerns about the hefty price tag to convene a series of talks in an attempt to address the country's challenges. "It was disorganised, and it was just a government elite that was all over the place that did not serve any purpose. If anything, it was serving the egos of certain people and therefore it was a waste of money." Malema said that the pulling out of legacy foundations and red flags raised by NGOs about the lack of preparedness in the build-up to the convention should have been heeded to. "We don't support this convention, we don't support the National Dialogue. We know the demands of our people, we cannot spend R700 million of money we don't have. Our people don't need talks, they are tired of talking."
