Young people have the potential to contribute to job creation, Trade and Industry (DTI) Deputy Minister Elizabeth Thabethe says.

Speaking at a celebration of the Insumu Yami Youth Cooperative at the weekend, Thabethe said the cooperative was established by five youths in 2009 and today provides employment for 20 people.

“Members of this cooperative have proved beyond reasonable doubt that our young people can contribute effectively to creating employment in this country, instead of complaining and demanding jobs from government or the private sector,” she said.

Government is not only patting them on the back but is also assessing the cooperative’s needs and assisting them.

The deputy minister conducted a walkabout at the cooperative’s 65 ha farm which harvests macadamia nuts for processing and exporting. “These youths must be an example to other young people in Mpumalanga and other parts of the country,” said Thabethe.

The Small Enterprise Development Agency (Seda’s) Chief Executive Officer Hlonela Lupuwana said Seda would be setting up a task team that will produce a turn-around strategy in six months as well as coordinate efforts by government to help the cooperative improve their production capacity.

– BuaNews