- ADEQUATE GOVERNMENT FUNDING AVAILABLE
Next-generation-jobs-creation
— job-incubators crucial
“Al Jama-ah political party is in the forefront of job-creation in a move to help government rescue the country’s ailing economy,” says Hon. Ganief Hendricks, member of parliament and Al Jama-ah leader this week.
Hendricks continued to say: “South Africa’s staggering high 29,1% unemployment rate (according to Stats SA 2020) is set to worsen dramatically largely due to the current Covid-19 pandemic.
“This amid the country’s junk status and downgrades the past year, resulting into the local economy continuing to deteriorate unabatedly.
“Furthermore, with government’s over-60% debt and in addition, the sporadic shutdown of businesses will undoubtedly cause the bleak catalyst of which half of the jobs being lost before the end of the year.
“Job-creation is now an urgency.”
Hon. Hendricks who is a member of the Portfolio Committee for Small Business Development in parliament, has now brazenly tackled the urgent need for small business opportunities for local youth.
It was revealed, Hendricks received an award as a pioneer of the internet in 2002 for creating next generation jobs and new revenue streams along with some other pioneers.
This included online-banking, online shopping, online media amid various other online business ventures.
He proudly brings this expertise to the “incubator” as part of his parliamentary constituency commitment.
Hendricks further disclosed: “Parliamentary constituency offices run by Al Jama-ah constituency officers, are already established in all provinces, with the flagship-office based in Surrey Estate, in the heart of the Cape Flats.”
Hon. Hendricks added: “The good news is, President Cyril Ramaphosa had already announced during his State-of-the-nation address, last month, a budget is available for adequate funding for thousands of young enterprising small business South Africans under 29.
“Government has prioritised the creation and full support for job-creation, especially in impoverished townships.
“There are now ample opportunities for young people under 29-years-old to obtain startup funding of up to R5-million, of which half of the loan will be a non-repayable grant.
“A key requirement is at least 10 small business enterprises should immediately be launched in the impoverished townships.
“Hence, the race is on to create township small business companies and jobs “.
Hendricks said, the small business funding application process can proceed up to a month.
“Development department’s agencies will assist with step-by-step processes until the loan is approved and paid out,” Hendricks said.
He reiterated: “While this process is proceeding, the National parliamentary constituency office of Al Jama-ah, in its mandate to bring parliament to young people, will run a parallel process to support the application process for the next four years, in the form of an ‘incubator,’ assisting 1 000 young people.
“This will create at least 10 000 jobs, hopefully many of them will be next-generation jobs.”
Meanwhile, Al Jama-ah has successfully developed an online learning and development programme which will inform “incubatees” how to access grants, whilst being unemployed as a result of the Covid-19 pandemic.
Hendricks added: “This online course also educates them about the financial opportunities available to young people who want to start new businesses in townships.
“In addition, females and disabled people make up more than half of the eventual successful applicants.
“The programme will first be rolled out to the party’s Fight-back team against Covid 19, termed, ‘Team-24’.
“Team-24 consists of our councillors, lawmakers and staffers.
“Team-24 that is responsible for recruiting 1 000 participants and assisting them, step-by-step, in order to be successful in their application for business loans up to R5 million.
“Team-24 also identifies next-generation jobs, new revenue streams and assisting them in their first year in business
“These participants, as part of the selection process, will have to successfully complete the programme, proudly known as ‘Team-24 incubator fight-back job creation venture. ‘”