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In a reply to a DA parliamentary question, President Zuma has confirmed that Cosatu remains the stumbling block to the implementation of the youth wage subsidy.

The President also said that government is still seeking trade union buy-in for the Youth Wage Subsidy that would create more than 420,000 new jobs.

This is a President who is afraid to make the tough choices that would benefit so many unemployed young people. The DA has calculated <http://www.youthwagesubsidynow.org/> that if the Youth Wage Subsidy had been implemented by the original deadline of 1 April 2010, around 300,000 young people would have been provided with job opportunities by now.

And, contrary to the claims of Cosatu, this would not have been at the cost of existing jobs.

So what is the hold-up? Why does the President need to seek further buy-in from Cosatu?

President Zuma must be reminded that Cabinet is not bound to wait for the NEDLAC process to be concluded before implementing the subsidy.

His government introduced this policy. His Finance Minister budgeted R5 billion for it to be implemented. He cannot sit on the fence any longer. He is the President, Zwelinzima Vavi is not.

President Zuma must explain to the unemployed youth of South Africa why he is choosing Cosatu’s interests over theirs.

I intend to give the President this opportunity in Parliament. I will today submit an urgent oral question for the President asking him to explain to the nation his reasons for not implementing the subsidy and what he intends to do to ensure that it is implemented.

So far, President Zuma has chosen to put the politics of the tripartite alliance ahead of the interests of millions of unemployed South Africans. Instead of showing leadership, he has chosen votes at Mangaung.

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