Khumbudzo Ntshavheni Highlights Govt Job Creation Successes Post-COVID-19

The Social Employment Fund (SEF) is another major initiative, supporting civil society organizations and creating over 167,000 job opportunities since April 2022.

Minister in The Presidency, Khumbudzo Ntshavheni, has lauded the government's initiatives that helped mitigate job losses during the COVID-19 pandemic and emphasized the recovery and growth in employment levels since then.

In her address to Parliament, Ntshavheni detailed how South Africa experienced a significant drop in employment due to the pandemic, with job numbers falling from 16.4 million in early 2020 to a low of 14.1 million by mid-year. The government, in collaboration with business and labor, implemented the Economic Reconstruction and Recovery Plan to address this crisis.

As of the first quarter of 2024, South Africa's employment figures have rebounded to 16.7 million, surpassing pre-pandemic levels. Ntshavheni noted that nine out of eleven industries have shown higher employment levels compared to during the pandemic. Noteworthy recoveries include the finance sector, with 680,000 additional jobs, and the community and social services sector, which saw an increase of 547,000 jobs.

The Presidential Employment Stimulus, a key initiative developed by President Cyril Ramaphosa, has been instrumental in creating job opportunities. Since its inception in October 2020, the program has generated over 2 million job opportunities with a budget of R42 billion. The initiative has had a significant impact on youth employment, with over 84% of participants being young people and 64% women.

Among the largest programs under this stimulus is the Basic Education Employment Initiative, which has created over one million positions for young people in schools. This initiative has become the largest youth employment program in South Africa’s history.

The Social Employment Fund (SEF) is another major initiative, supporting civil society organizations and creating over 167,000 job opportunities since April 2022. SEF focuses on community-driven projects such as early childhood development and combating gender-based violence.

Additionally, the Presidential Youth Employment Intervention (PYEI) introduced the SAYouth.mobi platform, which has facilitated over 1.3 million earning opportunities for young South Africans. This platform connects job seekers with employment and learning opportunities, ensuring broader access and engagement.

Ntshavheni assured continued strategic oversight and coordination of these employment initiatives, alongside development partners and government departments, to maintain and expand the positive impact on South Africa's job market.