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Millions of unemployed and unskilled Gauteng residents continue to suffer with no jobs and no skills as the now defunct and money pit Tshepo 1 Million failed to deliver on its promise.

This programme, launched in 2014 as Tshepo 500 000 for skills training, job placement, and entrepreneurship development and further developed as Tshepo 1Million in 2017, has failed the people of Gauteng.

According to the 2022/23 annual report for the Office of the Premier, the Tshepo 1 Million programme has not met the Technical Indicator Descriptor (TID) requirements and failed to meet the consistency test.

This is concerning, as the annual report would have indicated the achievements of this programme and progress that has been made in terms of creating employment opportunities in the province.

The annual report for the 2022/2023 financial year notes that this programme in conjunction with Harambee, was terminated on 31 March 2023. In addition, a transition plan to wind down the Tshepo 1 Million is currently underway.

The fact that there are no numbers for this programme for the year under review raises many questions. This means this programme was a waste of money, and only a handful benefited.

The Democratic Alliance (DA) will be tabling questions to Premier Panyaza Lesufi in the Gauteng Provincial Legislature (GPL) to determine how many unemployed residents benefitted from this programme, what skills they were equipped with, and how the new programme announced by Premier Lesufi during his State of the Province Address (SOPA) will be implemented.

Issued by Solly Msimanga MPL - Official Leader of the Opposition- Gauteng