Latest news with #PresidentialYouthEmploymentInitiative
The Citizen
02-07-2025
- Business
- The Citizen
Payment delays for school assistants due to DBE verification issues
According to the GDE, the DBE recently introduced a new centralised payment system for Phase V of the Presidential Youth Employment Initiative. The Gauteng Department of Education (GDE) has blamed ongoing payment delays affecting Education and general assistants on administrative problems within the Department of Basic Education (DBE), which is responsible for vetting and processing payments nationwide. In a statement issued on Tuesday, the GDE said it wanted to clarify the situation following mounting concerns from affected youth. 'The unfortunate delays in payments to Education and General Assistants are due to the processes being undertaken by the Department of Basic Education,' it said. National verification issues According to the GDE, the DBE recently introduced a new centralised payment system for Phase V of the Presidential Youth Employment Initiative. However, the new system is facing difficulties, particularly in the verification of candidates. 'The DBE acknowledged that their new centralised payment system introduced for Phase V is experiencing challenges such as verifying candidate ID numbers against the Department of Home Affairs database, matching those ID numbers and names to the correct bank account details, and resolving discrepancies where candidate data does not align with application data on the SAYouth platform,' the GDE explained. The DBE reportedly implemented the centralised system to enhance accountability and reduce fraud, but the unintended consequence has been a widespread delay in payments, affecting numerous candidates across the country, including in Gauteng. ALSO READ: Waterkloof principal transferred amid witness interference claims Gauteng verification complete While the Gauteng Education Department confirmed that it has already completed data validation at both school and district levels, many candidates in the province are still without payment due to national-level delays. 'Although Gauteng's data verification is largely complete and validated at school and district level, some of our candidates remain affected by this delay due to the DBE national centralisation of the payment process,' the department said. The GDE said it remains in contact with the DBE and hopes the situation will be resolved swiftly. 'We remain hopeful that the DBE will fast-track and conclude their verification processes to ensure that all youth employed at our schools are paid without any further delay,' the statement concluded. NOW READ: Pretoria Girls High principal found guilty of misconduct
TimesLIVE
11-06-2025
- Business
- TimesLIVE
'It's phenomenal': Ramaphosa hails teacher assistant jobs for helping millions of young people
President Cyril Ramaphosa has praised the basic education department's teacher assistant programme, saying it has been successful in providing millions of unemployed South Africans with job opportunities. The six-month Presidential Youth Employment Initiative (PYEI) — Basic Education Employment Initiative offers 200,000 unemployed young people between the ages of 18 and 34 the opportunity to be employed as education assistants and general school assistants in state schools. Phase V started in June, and successful candidates will receive a monthly stipend of R4,000 and an additional R30 for data. Briefing the media on Tuesday, Ramaphosa described the programme as 'phenomenal'. 'It is an overarching programme that covers almost all our 25,000 schools. I'm pleased that the basic education department has taken it on, working with the Presidency through the PYEI, and the labour and employment department has also assisted with the funds.' He said he wants the programme to be strengthened, adding it prepares young people for the formal job sector. 'It is proving to be beneficial in many ways. First, to the young people we bring in — young people who have not had jobs. So we bring them into formal job situations. They come into a formalised institution and they learn a lot. They gain a lot of knowledge, discipline, management skills and people skills to be able to interact with difficult young people, and they are excelling. 'This is usually empowering for these young people and we've had more than two million of them.' South Africa's unemployment rate has increased to 32.9%, with youth unemployment rising to 46.1%, leaving millions of young people out of work. Ramaphosa said while he would like the programme to be longer, insufficient resources make it difficult. Despite this, he said the programme is becoming influential globally. 'This is becoming a world-renowned programme. Many other countries are looking at what we are doing here and some of them are going to copy what we are doing, so we are trailblazers in many ways. This is one programme where there hasn't been corruption; it's been flawless and well executed.'
Eyewitness News
02-06-2025
- Business
- Eyewitness News
More than 76k SAns received job opportunities in State-sponsored programmes, says Mhlauli
JOHANNESBURG - Deputy Minister in The Presidency Nonceba Mhlauli says more than 76,000 people received opportunities for work in the last quarter of the financial year through a government-sponsored jobs programme. Mhlauli released statistics for the Presidential Youth Employment Initiative during a media briefing in Pretoria on Monday. This initiative was established five years ago, aimed at addressing the crisis of youth unemployment in the country. South Africa's youth unemployment rate stands at an alarming 46.1%, with data indicating that the majority of these individuals are neither enrolled in educational institutions nor participating in any form of training. ALSO READ: Trade and construction sectors the biggest contributors to SA's Q1 unemployment woes Between January and March, the presidential youth employment initiative provided over 76,000 young people with access to earning opportunities. However, the opportunities differ, ranging from internship programmes and short-term contracts to a limited number of permanent positions. Mhauli says the programme is playing a key role in addressing the crisis of youth unemployment. "These jobs are not just temporary placements. They are quality jobs, defined by duration, income level, and growth potential. We are already seeing shifts in employer practices as a result to better accommodating excluded young people." Despite these achievements, the youth unemployment rate continued to rise during the same period that earning opportunities were provided to these 76 young individuals.
SowetanLIVE
23-04-2025
- Business
- SowetanLIVE
Government offers 200,000 teacher assistant positions for unemployed youth
The basic education department has announced that applications for the Presidential Youth Employment Initiative (PYEI) — Basic Education Employment Initiative (BEEI) Phase V are open. This opportunity will offer 200,000 unemployed youth between the ages of 18 and 34 positions as education assistants and general school assistants in public schools. 'The focus for BEEI Phase V is to provide support to educators to contribute towards improved learning outcomes. To support the 7th Administration Priorities, the initiative will allocate more opportunities towards reading champions to support the improvement of reading and literacy in foundation and intermediate phases,' the department said. Successful candidates will receive a stipend of R4,000 per month (less than 1% UIF contribution) and R30 for data. Applications opened on April 22 and will close on May 9. Interviews will be conducted between May 19 and 31, and contracts will begin on June 2 and last until November. Schools have been advised to provide opportunities for disabled youth and women, as well as to prioritise youth in communities where the schools are located. 'In this way, the youth do not have to spend money on transportation between their homes and the schools where they will be employed.' The departments encouraged youth to apply for the opportunities 'so that they are included in these massive job opportunities, which can propel them into even greater opportunities and allow them to develop as professionals'. How to apply: Go to the SA Youth mobi website and register on the platform. The site is free and does not require any data. If you have already registered, simply log in using the same details. Once registered, opportunities at the school nearest to the address you have provided will appear, allowing you to submit your application. If no opportunities are visible, you can search for 'Education Assistant' or 'General Assistant.' Who can apply: South African citizens aged between 18-34; Must have a South African bank account; Must live within 5km of an urban school or 30km of a farm/rural school; and The phase is open to youth who have not participated in the program before. TimesLIVE
TimesLIVE
23-04-2025
- Business
- TimesLIVE
Government offers 200,000 teacher assistant positions for unemployed youth
The basic education department has announced that applications for the Presidential Youth Employment Initiative (PYEI) — Basic Education Employment Initiative (BEEI) Phase V are open. This opportunity will offer 200,000 unemployed youth between the ages of 18 and 34 positions as education assistants and general school assistants in public schools. 'The focus for BEEI Phase V is to provide support to educators to contribute towards improved learning outcomes. To support the 7th Administration Priorities, the initiative will allocate more opportunities towards reading champions to support the improvement of reading and literacy in foundation and intermediate phases,' the department said. Successful candidates will receive a stipend of R4,000 per month (less than 1% UIF contribution) and R30 for data. Applications opened on April 22 and will close on May 9. Interviews will be conducted between May 19 and 31, and contracts will begin on June 2 and last until November. Schools have been advised to provide opportunities for disabled youth and women, as well as to prioritise youth in communities where the schools are located. 'In this way, the youth do not have to spend money on transportation between their homes and the schools where they will be employed.' The departments encouraged youth to apply for the opportunities 'so that they are included in these massive job opportunities, which can propel them into even greater opportunities and allow them to develop as professionals'. How to apply: Go to the SA Youth mobi website and register on the platform. The site is free and does not require any data. If you have already registered, simply log in using the same details. Once registered, opportunities at the school nearest to the address you have provided will appear, allowing you to submit your application. If no opportunities are visible, you can search for 'Education Assistant' or 'General Assistant.' Who can apply: TimesLIVE
