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The IFP has dismissed the ANC's declared support programmes for the unemployed youth in KZN as "empty slogans" of which youth unemployment currently standing at 73% is the ultimate proof.

"The Premier has used the Social Development budget debate as an opportunity to flaunt his government's successes in fighting youth unemployment. Unfortunately, there are few successes to brag about," said Leader of the Official Opposition in KZN Blessed Gwala MPL.

The IFP has long argued that most government policies aimed at the unemployed youth, such as the EPWP, provide only short-term employment opportunities where little or no transfer of marketable skills takes place.

"Instead of encouraging the private sector to prioritise young employees, the government continues to waste the scarce public resources on various stipend-based employment opportunities, most of which have no economic justification," said Gwala.

The IFP contends that instead of expanding the skills base for private sector employment, the government is investing in dubious initiatives such as the Youth Ambassadors which are highly politicised and have no measurable performance indicators in place.

"The ANC government is more interested in solidifying dependency culture among the unemployed youth in KZN than in empowering our young people to acquire marketable skills or start and run their own businesses," said Gwala.