Gauteng Premier, Panyaza Lesufi, kept his vow and personally delivered the appointment letters for the Nasi iSpani initiative to the Orlando Stadium on Thursday, 27 July 2023. He was welcomed with open arms and cheers by the thousands that gathered to commemorate the event and their employment. Among those that were gathered were the 6,000 people that will be trained as solar panel technicians. In this initiative, trainees will be inducted in August and start training on September 1 in academic institutions. And while training, depending on academic qualifications, trainees will earn R7,000 a month.

The Nasi iSpani programme has also recruited crime prevention wardens and vacant land and maintenance employees.

In conjunction with these Nasi iSpani appointments, 40,000 individuals were employed in collaboration with the presidential youth employment initiative to work at schools across the province.

Premier Lesufi Aims to Create Many More Job Opportunities During His Term

Premier Lesufi indicated that state recruitment efforts will continue. He unpacked this by saying that by the time his term in office ends, he hopes to have created at least 80 000 jobs.

He also said:

“If you were employed during Covid-19 and your contract ended, I am declaring today [Thursday], come back, your appointment letters are ready for you.

Today we declare to those who were appointed in the Presidential Youth Initiative Programme and your contracts were ending in September, we are inviting you today that at Christmas this year you will get a salary and you will continue to work from the budget of [the] Gauteng government.”

Gauteng Premier, Panyaza Lesufi

Lesufi went on to explain that another 6,000 jobs will be on offer for people to become data capturers in August as the government moves from keeping information on paper to digital platforms. Data capturers will earn R8,000 a month.

In October, the provincial government will appoint 12,000 young people to install free internet and Wi-Fi in townships, informal settlements, and hostels.

“We are declaring war against unemployment in Gauteng. We [are] declaring war against poverty in Gauteng. We are saying we don’t want handouts and food parcels; we want jobs, and those jobs must come now.”

Gauteng Premier, Panyaza Lesufi

Opportunities for Business Owners Were Also Promised by the Premier

The positive sentiments did not end there. The premier also promised:

“Today we are declaring [that] every month we will employ 6,000 people until July 2024. We are not only giving jobs. If there are young people who want to start a business, the [Gauteng] government is setting aside R900m to fund you.”

Gauteng Premier, Panyaza Lesufi

The Premier’s words were well received by the packed stadium, and several took pictures with their appointment letters in full view after the proceedings.