Opposition parties in the Free State Legislature have accused the Provincial Government of failing to address the plight faced by young people. 

In a virtual sitting held on Friday, the DA’s Karabo Khakhau, who is also the youngest MPL in the Free State, told the House there is not much to celebrate when 74.7% of the youth remain unemployed. Khakhau said the majority of the youth in the province are struggling to find decent jobs, with 48.2 % of them unemployed whilst those in positions of power continue to loot from state funds. She told the House the Free State Government is failing to empower the youth, with recipients of the Premier’s International Bursaries Scheme also left stranded abroad.

“While some of our youth hold legitimate tertiary academic qualifications they are unable to find a decent job, if any at all, simply because the Free State economy cannot carry us all. We are forced to make peace with the fact that even when you have a degree, a diploma, or any tertiary certificate, you are doomed. Under this government, it has become a commonly understood norm that our best shot is [forming] relationships with people who know people in high positions”.

Khakhau has further criticised the provincial government for the quality of education, despite a high matric pass rate, and highlighted how there is a lack of youth representation in high-rank positions with the majority of those employed forced into the EPWP programme.

The ANC Chief Whip, Vusi Tshabalala, has during the debate also expressed concern at the level of unemployment in the province, stating that there is a high need for transformation in sectors such as Agriculture.

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