ActionSA Gauteng Youth Forum Condemns the Exploitation of Youth Brigades
Advice Chuma
ActionSA Gauteng Provincial Youth Forum Chairperson
ActionSA Gauteng Youth Forum condemns the action of the Department of Social Development of not paying the Youth Brigades’ October salaries. We view this as an unacceptable exploitation of the desperate youth who have put their trust in this program, that has caused severe inconvenience to many young people employed under it.
This issue of non-payment validates ActionSA’s position from the beginning when this program was launched under Nasi lspani, where we were vocal in saying this is a pure political gimmick by Premier Panyaza Lesufi. The program was a political campaigning tool without any long-term sustainability in sight regarding how the province will fund this program post-election period. To make matters worse, just last month, September, all Youth Brigades were invited to renew their contracts; why is it that now the Department is failing to pay them their salaries as per the contract renewal agreement?
In a country where youth unemployment has reached an uncontrollable level, and with the government failing to provide sustainable employment solutions, the very same government is the one subjecting the youth to noncompliance behaviour and violates the employment contract they have signed with these young people. This matter must be resolved with the urgency it requires so that our youth can continue their lives without stressing about where their next meal is coming from or where they will get money to pay for accommodation rental.
We also urge Premier Lesufi, as the mastermind of this unsustainable, failing program of Nasi lspani, to intervene and ensure that all the Youth Brigade members receive their salaries before the situation further deteriorates. If the premier fails to intervene speedily, we will be left with no option but to mobilize the affected Youth Brigades to march to his offices and directly submit the concerns of these young people. ActionSA Youth Forum will not allow our Youth to be exploited by this administration, particularly now that election campaigns are over.
ActionSA Gauteng Youth Forum Condemns the Exploitation of Youth Brigades
ActionSA Gauteng Youth Forum condemns the action of the Department of Social Development of not paying the Youth Brigades’ October salaries. We view this as an unacceptable exploitation of the desperate youth who have put their trust in this program, that has caused severe inconvenience to many young people employed under it.
This issue of non-payment validates ActionSA’s position from the beginning when this program was launched under Nasi lspani, where we were vocal in saying this is a pure political gimmick by Premier Panyaza Lesufi. The program was a political campaigning tool without any long-term sustainability in sight regarding how the province will fund this program post-election period. To make matters worse, just last month, September, all Youth Brigades were invited to renew their contracts; why is it that now the Department is failing to pay them their salaries as per the contract renewal agreement?
In a country where youth unemployment has reached an uncontrollable level, and with the government failing to provide sustainable employment solutions, the very same government is the one subjecting the youth to noncompliance behaviour and violates the employment contract they have signed with these young people. This matter must be resolved with the urgency it requires so that our youth can continue their lives without stressing about where their next meal is coming from or where they will get money to pay for accommodation rental.
We also urge Premier Lesufi, as the mastermind of this unsustainable, failing program of Nasi lspani, to intervene and ensure that all the Youth Brigade members receive their salaries before the situation further deteriorates. If the premier fails to intervene speedily, we will be left with no option but to mobilize the affected Youth Brigades to march to his offices and directly submit the concerns of these young people. ActionSA Youth Forum will not allow our Youth to be exploited by this administration, particularly now that election campaigns are over.