Latest news with #GautengCityRegionAcademy
Eyewitness News
6 days ago
- Business
- Eyewitness News
Lesufi's office receives R50m boost for second phase of the Nasi Ispani programme
JOHANNESBURG - The office of the Gauteng Premier has received an additional R50 million in funding, earmarked for the second phase of the Nasi Ispani programme. This is a mass recruitment drive launched by Premier Panyaza Lesufi, creating job opportunities for unemployed youth. Finance MEC Lebogang Maile tabled his second budget on Tuesday, including allocations to support the next phase of the programme. ALSO READ: Lesufi announces second instalment of Nasi Ispani programme The Gauteng government says the first phase of the Nasi Ispani program provided employment and income opportunities to more than 90,000 young people. This time around, the province is relaunching the initiative with a stronger focus on skills development and training for youth. When asked whether the province has the financial backbone to fund the programme, Finance MEC Lebogang Maile responded with a confident 'yes'. "In the 2025/2026 financial year, the office of the premier will receive an additional R50 million to fund Nas'ispani, a skills development initiative spearheaded by the Gauteng City Region Academy. Unemployment remains our biggest challenge, as evidenced by the latest data showing that Gauteng's unemployment rate increased to 34.7%." The funds for the programme come from the R1.8 billion that was not spent in the previous financial year.
TimesLIVE
6 days ago
- Business
- TimesLIVE
Lesufi's office receives further R50m to raise its allocation to R1.72bn
A notable addition includes R50m to the office of the premier for Nas'iSpani, the flagship youth skills and employment initiative led by the Gauteng City Region Academy (GCRA). To stimulate the township economy and support entrepreneurs, the department of economic development will get an additional R100m. 'Sixty million rand will augment the R40m allocated at the start of the financial year for loan funding support to SMMEs, while R40m will help the department meet its strategic targets,' Maile explained. He said this funding will also 'lay the groundwork for unlocking the investment pledges made at the Gauteng investment conference.' The department of human settlements receives the largest share of the budget adjustment, R332m. 'This allocation is to assist in servicing informal settlements with sanitation and R100m is for securing land and finished structures to mitigate against land invasion and illegal occupation. 'Roads and transport will benefit from an additional R314.9m, with R150m earmarked for the repair and completion of 54 priority roads across the province. 'Another R115m will be channelled towards fixing broken traffic lights and street lights,' Maile noted, adding that improved road infrastructure is vital for mobility and economic growth. The newly established department of environment will receive R68m — R18m will be for governance capacity and R50m for the 'clean and green' programme in collaboration with municipalities. 'This is aimed at improving the lived experience of the Gauteng citizenry and responding to the challenge of unclean public spaces,' Maile said. Budgets for health (R67.1bn), education (R68bn), and social development (R5.4bn) remain unchanged. Maile said the budget demonstrates the overall 'thrust of our budget approach remains the resourcing of critical social and economic programmes that form the basis of the social wage with our people.'
