Christopher Motabogi

Two years after being proposed, the National Rural Youth Service Corps was finally launched in Thaba ‘Nchu outside Bloemfontein today. It aims to offer employment to some of the eight-million unemployed young people across the country. Programme Manager, Anton van Staden, says at least a thousand youths from rural backgrounds from all nine provinces will benefit. He says this multi-faceted programme will include among other things a seven-week, non-military training programme emphasizing discipline. Van Staden says the graduates will do household profiling in their own communities. The National Rural Youth Service Corps forms part of government’s plan to develop rural areas.

Addressing attendees at the launch was Free State MEC for Public Works, Fezi Ngubentoni.

At the launch were, from left, Dr. Moshe Swartz (DDG: Rural Development and Land Reform Department), Mmathabo Moeketsi (FS government), Nonala Buthelezi (National Coordinator: Narysec) and Anton van Staaden (National Head: Narysec)

Pictures: Christopher Motabogi