Honourable Members, we know that job creation is a central priority of the National Development Plan. Bantu bakuthi masibambisane sakhe amathuba emisebenzi (Fellow South Africans, let us work together to create opportunities for employment.)

Since the low-point of the 2009 recession, employment has increased by approximately 1.3 million, as recorded in the Quarterly Labour Force Survey. But unemployment of 24 per cent of the work force is still far too high. And so Tshepo Sechele, a student at the Vaal University of Technology, quite rightly advises that “government should have clear strategies for youth development and employment for the next 5 to 20 years.”

We have such a strategy. It includes:

•        Stepped up implementation of the expanded public works programme.

•        Implementation of the Community Work Programme in every municipality by 2017.

•        Ramping-up of skills development and further education and training programmes.

Billions of rand have been allocated to these programmes.

And to support those who lose their jobs in difficult times, Minister Oliphant has introduced proposals to extend unemployment benefits from 238 to 365 days, on condition that claimants are actively seeking work.