The Presidential Employment Stimulus (PES), launched in 2020 by President Cyril Ramaphosa, has recently reached a significant milestone: over one million opportunities have been delivered to the South Africans participating in the programme.
The PES was created as part of the Economic Reconstruction and Recovery Plan (ERRP), implemented to address the economic impact of the Covid-19 pandemic, through a variety of measures that have been put in place.
Since its inception, the PES has created a multitude of opportunities for over one million direct beneficiaries across South Africa.
The ERRP's priority is to "achieve more rapid and inclusive growth in order to create sustainable jobs in the private sector through economic reforms and other measures to support recovery."
Many South Africans lost their jobs as a result of the pandemic and the programme was created as a response to the situation.
“These include jobs created, work experience provided, livelihoods strengthened, skills developed and small business owners supported and promoted. These opportunities have been a lifeline for many in a time of crisis and are supporting economic recovery in local economies, townships, informal settlements and rural areas in every part of our country,” said the President.
Making use of public funding is how government plans to create jobs and better the livelihoods of South Africans while the economy recovers from Covid-19.
Ramaphosa attributed this achievement of one million beneficiaries to a collaborative effort between government, the private sector, community-based organisations and others.
“As we pursue economic growth to deliver decent and sustainable employment at a much larger scale, we will continue to build on the success of the Presidential Employment Stimulus and expand its reach. It is still very much needed to complement recovery of the job market. It also supports that economic recovery in important ways,” the President said.
Under the Presidential Employment Stimulus falls the Presidential Youth Employment Initiative (PYEI).
Almost 600 000 young people have been placed as school assistants in over 22 000 schools across the country, revealed Ramaphosa. According to him, school management, teachers and other stakeholders all agree that school assistants have improved the learning environment within schools.
The Presidential Employment Stimulus is also supporting graduates with the help of universities, 26 of which are helping place unemployed graduates in work that is relevant to their qualifications.
“The Department of Science and Innovation has introduced a range of innovative citizen science programmes, such as the Duzi uMngeni Conservation Trust, which employs local youth as Enviro-Champs to empower communities to rehabilitate local water sources. Another programme by the Department helps entrepreneurs to develop business proposals in the green economy,” explained Ramaphosa.
He also urged businesses to hire young people with newly-acquired work experience as they leave these programmes.
“Once employers see the Presidential Youth Stimulus as a place to find young talent, then we will be able to realize the full potential of this innovative and hugely successful initiative,” he said.
The President said these and other programmes demonstrate the significant scale at which the PES has delivered employment and livelihood opportunities, mobilizing a wide range of stakeholders, and creating real social value in the process.
