South African President Jacob Zuma has admitted that the Congress of South African Trade Unions (Cosatu) remained an obstacle to the implementation of the youth wage subsidy, the Democratic Alliance (DA) said in a statement issued on Wednesday.

The President said government was still waiting for the trade union’s thumbs up for the Youth Wage Subsidy that would create more than 420 00 new jobs, the statement said.

“President Jacob Zuma is afraid to make tough decisions that would benefit thousands of unemployed South Africans,” said the DA.

The opposition party disagrees that the subsidy will be implemented at the cost of existing jobs.

DA Parliamentary Leader Lindiwe Mazibuko says Zuma should explain to the unemployed youth why he is choosing Cosatu’s interest over theirs. Mazibuko intends to submit an urgent oral question for the President asking him to explain his reasons for not implementing the subsidy.

Cosatu is also accused of disrupting a Youth Wage Subsidy march held by the DA on Tuesday. The party is set to lay criminal charges against the labour union.

“South Africa cannot wait any longer. The time for President Zuma to act in the interest of the unemployed is now”, Mazibuko said.