Eastern Cape premier Oscar Mabuyane has assured young people in the province that they would benefit from entrepreneurship and skills development projects worth R5bn.
Mabuyane addressed the provincial Youth Day commemoration at Kwa-Moko Stadium, Ezihlahleni, Debe in Raymond Mhlaba municipality on Sunday.
He said the provincial government was working to attract investments and support young entrepreneurship to foster a culture of innovation and offering resources for start-ups, create economic opportunities and reduce unemployment.
Key stakeholders, including sector education and training authorities (Setas) and private sector investors, have joined forces with the government to support youth development initiatives in the province.
“As premier, I am deeply committed to ensuring that our youth have every opportunity to succeed and thrive,” he said.
“I encourage all young people to take full advantage of these programmes and actively participate in the growth and development of our province.
“Let us continue to build on the momentum of Youth Day and work together towards a future where every young person in the Eastern Cape can achieve their dreams and contribute to our shared prosperity.”
Mabuyane said while youth had to seek greener pastures due to a lack of opportunities, others had resorted to committing crime.
He said the government was changing the trajectory.
“All young people will be skilled and given opportunities,” Mabuyane said.
“We are going to go all out...townships, urban and rural areas to train our young people and give them skills.
“I was happy to see Isiqalo [Youth Fund] taking off the ground, [youth] getting about R45m from Isiqalo [and] giving about 70 young entrepreneurs all the apparatus they need to kick-start their businesses.
“We mean business...we are changing lives.”
Mabuyane handed handed over more than six tractors youth projects and called on young people to grab opportunities to upskill themselves.
He was accompanied by ANC Youth League provincial chair and newly elected provincial legislature deputy speaker Vuyo Jali, Buffalo City Metro mayor Princess Faku and her Amathole district municipality counterpart Anele Ntsangani.
Various MECs from the provincial government also graced the occasion.
DispatchLIVE
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