PARADIGM-SHIFT: Former president Phumzile Mlambo-Ngcuka echoes sentiment from other leaders and government that national development efforts should target male youths after years of neglect…

By Mpikeleni Duma

The focus must now shift to the boy child, who have experienced years of neglect, while the national push focused on empowering young girls.

This was the unanimous view from different speakers expressed during the launch of “What About The Boys” programme in Sandton yesterday. The event was organised by PRIMESTARS and Nelson Mandela Children’s Fund at the Radisson Blu Gautrain Hotel.

Dr Phumzile Mlambo-Ngcuka, former deputy president of South Africa and main patron of What About The Boys campaign, told about 500 guests that research showed that the boy-child lagged behind the girl child.

“Girls have been pushed and many have graduated. However, boys are unable to finish high school. They need a shock therapy to realise their dreams,” says Phumzile-Ngcuka.

Mlambo-Ngcuka said young boys should be discouraged from being involved in violence against women and girls. Mlambo Foundation, her own institution, would work hand-in-hand with PRIMESTARS and the Nelson Mandela Children’s Fund to realise this big dream to empower boys.

“In the Limpopo province, we would introduce the What About The Boys campaign to the 15 schools where my foundation is operating. This campaign must be nationally. Boys and girls have many challenges in this era of nano technology, information technology and artificial intelligence. If they want to use their iPad or phones to study or do their homework there is no electricity and water.”

Dr Linda Nkomo, CEO of Nelson Mandela Children’s Fund, said the What About The Boys concept started after Martin Sweet approached her and requested R15 million to kick-start the project.

“We must reach out to boys in refugee camps and those who don’t have uncles, sisters and family, in general. They need our support in all directions. It has been established that boys suffer abuse from their coaches and trainers in sports. These abuse against the boys must come to an end. We will continue to work with PRIMESTARS the drivers behind this campaign,” said Nkomo. “A Phase Two of the programme must be activity in all schools.’’

Professor Bonang Mohale challenged the guests to think deep of how the resources of the country were distributed.

“It is witchcraft after 29 years we gained our freedom that black people are still leaving in the ghettos in majority. It is witchcraft that the economy of the country is still in the control of the minority”. Mohale also challenged the corporate world and companies listed on the Johannesburg Stock Exchange to meet the South African government in closing a historical debt totalling R16 billion owed to universities to help students who are still in limbo because of fees owned to the institution of high learning.

“If there is good leadership, our country could prosper and the level of poverty could be reduced,” Minister Lindiwe Zulu said, calling on PRIMESTARS and organisers to also engage with the Minister of Police, Bheki Cele. “SAPS Crime Stats show the rise of crimes committed by boys against their loved ones.

It is in this area where PRIMESTARS could be involved. It is not only the Department of Social Development that can be involved. Different departments of like education, health, economic development must be involved to tackle the problem. Just like the fight against apartheid, everybody must be involved against GBV violence and the cause of the boys.”

Zulu said even President Cyril Ramaphosa was happy with the What About The Boys programme and revealed as much in his State of the Nation of Address early this year.

In his vote of thanks, Sweet said many schools in the Gauteng province had been reached through this campaign.

Fast Food giant Mac Donald announced that it will join the campaign. Nicol Rademeyer of Markham clothes showed the guests a T-Shirt designed to support the campaign to be available in stores country wide later in the year. He said profits from the sale of the merchandise will go to the campaign. Among the dignitaries was former First Lady Mr Zanele Mbeki and CEOs of the corporate world that sponsored the event. Songstress Brenda Mtambo serenaded the guests with a few of her heart-warmers.

NO JOBSEEKERS’ CVs DUMPED – GAUTENG PREMIER

PROBE: But ActionSA wants Scopa to take action against Panyaza Lesufi…

By Robert Tlapu

Gauteng ActionSA has written to the provincial Standing Committee on Public Accounts (SCOPA) chairperson Sochayile Khanyile to investigate Premier Panyaza Lesufi’s Nasi’ Ispani initiative launched on Youth Day.

The call follows allegations that most of the CVs submitted by job seekers were dumped soon after they were submitted by hundreds at Nasrec Centre, Johannesburg south.

But Gauteng premier Panyaza Lesufi has denied that hundreds of CVs which were submitted for the province’s Nasi iSpani programme were dumped.

“Nasi Ispani is a strategic recruitment drive aimed at addressing unemployment and promoting access to job opportunities available within the Gauteng Provincial Government. The programme was launched on June 16. The programme saw thousands of vacancies advertised,” Lesufi was reported as saying by IOL. Lesufi said all the CVs that were received via the jobs and at the 22 walk-in centres, would be accounted for.

The allegations have been doing rounds on social platforms, claiming that the Gauteng Premier Lesufi instructed that the bulk of hand-delivered CVs should not be captured and be dumped. The CVs belong to thousands of job seekers who came to the Nasrec centre on Youth Day to apply for many of the provincial government jobs advertised under Lesufi’s Nasi Ispani (Here’s work) drive, which has come under public criticism following dumping allegations.

According to ActionSA Gauteng Spokesperson James de Villiers, “We welcomes the initiative aimed at addressing the crisis of youth unemployment which is currently stand at 63.9%. However, we cannot stand by and allow state resources to be used as electioneering gimmicks by Premier Lesufi and the ANC to induce votes in next year’s national and provincial governments’ elections. All residents of Gauteng should have equal access to the jobs offered”.

“We are equally concerned by allegations that the hundreds of paper-based applications submitted by countless youth on June 16 have been irregularly discarded, and they therefore will not find consideration for the job opportunities said to be on offer”, said De Villiers.

He continued that they had written to the Gauteng Scopa to investigate the allegations. ActionSA Gauteng Youth Forum has made a call that all the government job applications should be accessible online to avoid barriers to entry and to remove possible abuse by government officials.

ActionSA says it awaits Gauteng Scopa’s response and will monitor Nasi’Ispani related developments and hold Lesufi’s government accountable.

Vuyo Mhaga, Gauteng Premier ’s office spokesperson dismissed the allegations of the dump CVs, “All the submitted CVs are captured on our database, and all the people who are qualified for positions they applied for will be considered and would go through the process”.

Mhaga further said anyone around Gauteng is encouraged to apply for the positions they are qualified for, irrespective of age. The Nasi’Ispani job applications can be done online on www.professionaljobcentre.gpg.gov.za and deadline is 14 July 2023.