In August 2021, the Statistician-General, Risenga Maluleke, released results of the Quarterly Labour Force Survey (QLFS) for the second quarter of 2021, which revealed that the Free State had recorded the second highest rate increase of 1,8%, resulting in 34,4%. Meanwhile, Ntombela said the lack of job opportunities in the Jagersfontein area has led to young people being subjected to substance and drug abuse. She also mentioned that the issue of gender-based violence is also on the rise in the area as young people are hopeless.

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“Jagersfontein - God gave them the mineral resources of diamonds. Not even a single person in Jagersfontein is a shareholder of that mine. Our youth are unemployed in Jagersfontein but God gave them a diamond mine. In Koffiefontein it's the same thing,” said Ntombela.

She, however, adds that the government has fought hard to ensure that young people get the education that they deserve. She called on the youth to grab the opportunity and make use of it. This, after stating that NSFAS is currently spending R47 billion on students in tertiary institutions. Ntombela stated that 717 young girls who are depending on government grants will form part of the training which consist of four fundamental pillars of the digital skills development programme; basic digital literacy, specialised programmes, digital transformation, and research on the development of work. 

ALSO READ: Thousands of young Free Staters to receive training

This, as the government has signed a memorandum of agreement with Nemisa that 10 000 young people will receive training.

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