Gauteng DA brands Nasi Ispani programme a failed election ploy
The programme, championed by Gauteng Premier Panyaza Lesufi, gave thousands of previously unemployed youth temporary jobs within the provincial government.
DA Gauteng leader, Solly Msimanga. Picture: Thabiso Goba/ EWN.
JOHANNESBURG - The Democratic Alliance (DA) in Gauteng has branded the provincial government’s Nasi Ispani programme a failed election ploy.
The programme, championed by Gauteng Premier Panyaza Lesufi, gave thousands of previously unemployed youth temporary jobs within the provincial government.
These included the Gauteng crime prevention wardens, informally known as Amapanyaza - teaching assistants and artisans among others.
READ: Lesufi announces retention of Amapanyaza, hints more imminent job opportunities
Last year, shortly after the elections, the Gauteng government laid off 32,000 teaching assistants because it had not received funding from the national government to expand the programme.
Speaking at a media briefing on Thursday, DA Gauteng leader Solly Msimanga said more cuts are expected because the programmes were not properly budgeted.
“We are still having a situation of teachers who are not able to cope with the number of learners in their classes. We have in certain instances classes with 98 learners in certain schools and we need those teaching assistants to be assisting and yet we not getting that. Panyaza had the audacity to stand and say these are the people he has employed and employed permanently in certain cases - had their contracts cancelled with nothing said to them and now they find themselves again joining millions of unemployed people in SA and Gauteng with no hopes of getting a job.”