The DA Youth welcomes Minister Gordhan’s undertaking on the youth wage subsidy

The DA Youth initially noted with concern the omission from the Medium Term Expenditure Framework of any reference to a youth wage subsidy, as was originally tabled by the Finance Minister for discussion in February.

Yesterday, however, in a response to a question from Dr. Dion George MP, the DA’s Shadow Minister of Finance, on whether the youth wage subsidy has indeed been shelved, Minister Gordhan responded emphatically that the proposed subsidy has not been shelved and will be implemented once it’s design is completed.

The DA Youth welcomes the fact that the Minister has not bowed to pressure from Cosatu on this proposal. We intend to hold the Minister to this promise and will therefore step up our national petition campaign for the introduction of a youth wage subsidy. We will present these petitions to the President at the end of November, who we will lobby to put interests of 3,1 million unemployed youth above those who are hell bent on maintaining the status quo.

Any objection to the implementation of the scheme is an objection to youth development.

The DA Youth is committed to improving the lives of all the youth of South Africa and will not permit this matter to become just another promise. We cannot afford to see young people remain in the margins any longer.

Media Enquiries:

Makashule Gana
DA Youth Leader
082 773 4755

Rihan Kleyn
DA Youth Media and Publicity Chair
084 503 8383

Aimee Franklin
DA Youth Director
072 232 0127