Gauteng Premier Lesufi relaunches youth programme to combat tenderpreneurism

Gauteng Premier, Panyaza Lesufi, announced that the province will no longer be reliant on tenderpreneurs, who frequently engage in disputes and legal battles with municipalities over contracts.

On Wednesday, Lesufi briefed the media on the key outcomes from the recent Executive Council Lekgotla and on the upcoming relaunch of his recruitment programme, Nasi iSpani, scheduled for its return this Saturday, September 6.

Lesufi confirmed that since its inception, the Nasi iSpani programme has positioned itself as one of Gauteng’s flagship interventions to tackle the pressing challenge of youth unemployment as a key driver of work opportunities, skills development, and pathways into permanent employment for thousands of young people across the province.

The relaunch, according to the Premier, is not only symbolic but also strategic, marking a renewed commitment to scaling up opportunities. It aims to expand its reach, strengthen partnerships with the private sector, and enhance monitoring mechanisms to ensure greater impact.

“We cannot allow our province to be at the mercy of tenderpreneurs, who have made it difficult for government to repair even deteriorating traffic lights and other infrastructure... Nasi iSpani is more than a programme: it is a promise to the youth of Gauteng that they will not be left behind. Our goal is to ensure that every young person has access to opportunities that build their skills and secure their future,” Lesufi said.

He said the province has been in talks with the Department of Higher Education and the SETAs to ensure that the funding of the intended 45,000 young people goes ahead as planned.

"We said it, and we are doing it. The Gauteng Provincial Government is reigniting its commitment to address unemployment by investing in practica skills development. Over 45,000 training opportunities in bricklaying, plumbing, welding, electronic repairs, and more. Let’s build a capable, self-reliant Gauteng, one skill at a time.

"Despite teething challenges, the programme has been a great success and we are working on a vetting process to ensure that those who are recruited are South African people who deserve to be part of the programme," he said.

On the outcomes of the Gauteng Executive Lekgotla, Lesufi stated that the Lekgotla tackled a myriad of economic transformation and job creation interventions.

"On economic transformation and job creation, we have taken a sharpened focus on accelerating inclusive economic growth, with deliberate efforts to unlock investment and create sustainable jobs, and when it comes to service delivery Acceleration, we have made a commitment to improving infrastructure, health, education, and basic services, with measurable timelines for implementation," he said.

siyabonga.sithole@inl.co.za