Confusion reigns over Tirelo Sechaba and YES

Calistus Kolantsho | Tuesday June 10, 2014 15:10

Speaking during the Public Accounts Committee (PAC) meeting last week, Molao said many people believe that when Tirelo Sechaba was implemented, it replaced the YES programme. He said there are people who were taken for YES programme boot camps and have been attached at various departments. He asked the permanent secretary in the Ministry of Youth, Sports and Culture, Ruth Maphorisa if those people will be absorbed into Tirelo Sechaba.

Molao revealed that youth officers have informed members of the public that Tirelo Sechaba has replaced the YES programme.

In response, Maphorisa told the PAC that Tirelo Sechaba is a component of the YES programme. She stated that Tirelo Sechaba was not meant to replace the YES programme, but that under the latter, the focus was mostly on boot camps. She said boot camps have since been cancelled and transferred to the Ministry of Education and Skills Development.

“YES programme is meant to deal with issues affecting the youth, such as unemployment and school drop outs. Tirelo Sechaba is meant for youth below 30 years. We have 1,600 youth who went for the YES programme and they are now attached under Tirelo Sechaba,” she said.

She told the committee that Tirelo Sechaba is meant to empower the youth through attachment in various departments where they learn different skills.

PAC chairperson, Nehemiah Modubule said 4.7 percent of graduates are roaming the streets unemployed. He wanted to know if they would be employed after completing Tirelo Sechaba.

Maphorisa said graduates can either join the Internship programme or if they are lucky they will be employed. She stated that the youth must not depend solemnly on the government for jobs.

Meanwhile, Maphorisa announced that the restructuring of her ministry started in April. She said the process would see youth officers being posted to districts and sub-districts. She added that the expectation is for the officers to be at their stations by June.