The department of agriculture, rural development and land reform said it is working around the clock to ensure that unemployed graduates are absorbed into various fields. This statement comes in response to a five-day protest during which assistant agricultural practitioners (APPs) camped outside the department’s headquarters in Pretoria, demanding employment.
Lungile Gabuza, who is representing the assistant agricultural practitioners, said the termination of the programme has led to 4 734 job losses, mainly young people.
“When we camped, we did meet with some officials from the department who told us the importance of the programme to them as the department and they trying to get funds, so even now we are still waiting on their response,” she said.
Reggie Ngcobo, spokesperson for agriculture minister Thoko Didiza, stated that the department is actively addressing the issue and has communicated with the practitioners’ leaders regarding the measures being taken.
“We did communicate with them that the national department of treasury has not made any money available,” Ngcobo said.
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Shattered hopes and dreams
Meanwhile, the president of the South African Agricultural Graduates Association, Malose Mokgotho, said the sad part is that the hope that was given to many young people were now shattered.
“The poor graduates had plans to turn the opportunity into a stable income post. Their ambitions were destroyed. As an organisation, we would only rest if they could be reinstated with full benefits and with the opportunity of permanent employment post the programme,” he said.
Mokgotho said the incoming government need to fast-track the reinstatement of the graduates as a matter of urgency, “Our agricultural sector at large requires a dedicated top leadership that better understands the challenges of the sector and beneficiaries on the ground.
‘We need new thinkers in government’
“We need an accountable leadership that will definitely and deliberately hold government officials accountable in respect to the reporting structures.
“Over 4 500 graduates witnessed disheartening contract termination happening before their eyes. They only had to earn the salaries for only six months,” he said.
He said they want a government that takes its people serious and delivers on promises given to the people, especially young people.
“We want a government that invests a lot in new perspectives of strategic management, particularly strategic implementation processes. We need a government that can better link political sphere with the technical sphere without fail,” he said.
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