The View Point

Guest: Steven Sachs, Director at Bagraim Sachs Inc

#Monday Lecture: Labour and South Africa: A Political Perspective

Guest: Connie Matlejoane, Chief Executive Officer - CRM Enterprise (PTY) Ltd

Tips from a female entrepreneur on how to get a seat at the table and secure business from big businesses

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Guest: Nthabiseng Dubazana, Director and Attorney at Dubazana Attorney

How does this law work in the context of South Africa? Is this specific to types of jobs or contract agreements? What are the processes of claims

Guest: Prof Mary Metcalfe  - Education Expert Professor and Former Member of the Gauteng Executive Council

Guest: Mamokgethi Phakeng - Former UCT vice-chancellor

Guest: Lincoln Mali - Southern Africa CEO for Lesaka

It is undisputed that the University of Fort was a key institution in higher education for black Africans from 1916 to 1959 and today post our democratic dispensation the enrolment patterns of the university still remain an institution in the main accommodating the children of the working class and the poor, who in the main a black. 80% of the University of Fort Hare are beneficiaries of the National Student Financial Aid.

offered a Western-style academic education to students from across sub-Saharan Africa, creating a black African elite. Fort Hare alumni were part of many subsequent independence movements and governments of newly independent African countries. Amongst those who studied at Fort Hare who later became leaders of their countries were Kenneth Kaunda, Seretse Khama, Yusuf Lule, Julius Nyerere, Robert Mugabe and Joshua Nkomo. Within our country, we have amongst our liberation leaders such as Nelson Mandela, Govan Mbeki, Oliver Tambo, and Desmond Tutu. This in indeed a very important institutions within the community of our post school education and training sector.

The university of Fort Hare has been under a lot of scrutiny, investigation and attempted assassination to cover up corruption, we look in to the developments and progress of these challenges.

Guest: JP Roodt, Director of Marketing and Communications of UFH. Also spokesperson for the University.

As the situation in Sudan continues to be fraught, the department of international relations and cooperation (DIRCO) has confirmed that the implementation of an evacuation strategy is at an advanced stage. We also understand that currently, there are about 77 verified South African nationals trapped in Sudan. Network connectivity has been a challenge in the process of moving people to the border while the ceasefire is still in place. How is the evacuation process going now? We’re joined by Clayson Monyela, Deputy Director General: Public Diplomacy at the Department of International Relations and Cooperation.

Guest: Clayson Monyela, International relations and co-operation department head of diplomacy

The latest number of verified South Africa nationals stuck in conflict torn Sudan is 77, according to the Department of International Relations and Cooperation (Dirco),

as it continues rescue efforts while fighting rages on in the African country.

In a late night Twitter update Clayson Monyela, spokesperson for Dirco, indicated that all 77 South African nationals were believed to be in a WhatsApp group, together with embassy staff who are also stranded in Sudan.

Sudan’s capital city of Khartoum has been engulfed in a deadly military battle between the government forces led by the military ruler Abdel Fattah al-Burhan, and the paramilitary group Rapid Support Forces (RSF) led by Mohamed Hamdan Dagalo since April 15.

A number of people in the capital and other cities in Sudan have been left trapped in their homes with fighting in the streets and in the air, between the Sudanese army and the paramilitary group.

Monyela said that while they were aware of the complaints of inconsistent or little to no communication from the team, it must also be understood that the teams have run out of diesel and there's no electricity and poor network there.

"They've since found a way to recharge batteries and will update SA nationals regarding evacuation plans," Monyela said.

The fighting hasn't stopped in the area and while it remains a "dangerous and risky operation", Monyela assured that security agencies were at an advanced stage with their evacuation plan.

"The airport is closed and all routes are not risk free. [Government] is doing everything possible to get our nationals out. Without revealing security plans, there's an option that is being implemented. Updates will be provided," Monyela said.

Dr Imtiaz Sooliman of humanitarian group Gift of the Givers, said that the South Africans stuck in Sudan had shown resilience and strength but were anxious and scared.

He said the Gift of the Givers had been rallying to support and encourage them in the best way possible, and it was fortunate that some of those stranded had better cellphone connectivity, through which they had managed to arrange buses to move the stranded South Africans to the airport.

"We've also been requested by the Tanzanian government to help them to evacuate their nationals.

" We are in contact with people within our government.

"It's extremely complicated but careful planning, paperwork, right decisions, working together all of us, I'm sure we will survive and succeed in bringing everyone home. This is not a Gift of the Givers intervention, we are just trying to help, guide and do the best we can, " Sooliman said.

This fierce battle between the military and paramilitary forces in Sudan has rung international alarm bells with countries across the globe pulling strings to safeguard their interests.

The days of violence in Sudan have resulted in the death of at least 180 people, with many more left wounded.

The stigma associated with mental illness has permeated society; it is now seen as a sign of vulnerability and as a condition that should be kept private. People frequently struggle with their mental health, we examine how they cope, the difficulties they encounter, and the factors that contribute to depression and suicidal thoughts. We examine how these specific challenges are overcome when cues from childhood traumas are present.

Guest: Boitumelo Mancwe, Founder of Unsuicidalthoughts and Mental health activist

“The campaign is established to raise mental awareness, mainly suicide and depression. We exist to educate individuals on what it means to be depressed and to have suicidal thoughts. We are creating a platform for individuals to speak out without being judged or afraid to seek help, because of the way society has defined depression and suicide as being a weakness, hence people die in silence.

  People need to know that they are the power, they can change the negative to positive and they can change their lives for the better, all they need to do is shout out for help and they will be acknowledged. That is why unsuicidalthoughts exists, to be there to listen and help, show individuals that we are for them and not against them as society would be.

Unsuicidalthoughts aims to inspire to redefine our thoughts.

We trying to build a platform where people will feel safe and comfortable to express their feelings and not feel judged but rather understood, because sometimes a positive breakthrough can happen through talking and being listened to”

# Youth unemployment is a depressing reality in post-apartheid South Africa.

For many black South Africans, the change from apartheid to democracy 29 years ago held out the hope of a fresh start. The promise of equality for everyone was one of many. This meant that after years of oppression, discrimination, and segregation, black people were finally making progress toward political freedom, monetary prosperity, service delivery, access to public goods, and human dignity. After nearly three decades, the unemployment rate in South Africa is at 32,7%, and 30.4 million people are considered to be below the poverty line.

one can inquire as to what became of the pledges made by the African National Congress.

Guest: Asanda Ngoasheng, Political Analyst

More information

The ANC is still led by people born and raised in the apartheid era, so the party lacks new and fresh ideas. It has been leading South Africa astray. The drastic increase of youth unemployment every year is evidence enough that the country is in a dark alley.

South Africa currently suffers a 61% youth unemployment rate, which is far higher than it was during the apartheid era (29. 92%). Some people would argue that this is due to the rural-urban migration and the increasing population in the country compared to the apartheid era. Nevertheless, it is apparent that the government has dismally failed to create jobs and provide black South Africans with the financial freedom that was promised by the ANC when it took power in 1994.

Since 1994, various initiatives to reduce the rate of youth unemployment in South Africa have been implemented, but most were not effective. For example, former president Jacob Zuma adopted a new youth policy in 2015. It promised that all government departments would prioritise programmes that are critical to youth development. There is hardly any evidence that the national youth policy and the ones that came after, such as “democracy development”, achieved anything.

The youth are facing many barriers to employment. “The challenge for unemployed youth is not only one of skills. There are many graduates, who have completed university degrees, who are still unemployed,” said President Cyril Ramaphosa at the Youth Day celebrations at Orlando Stadium in Soweto on June 16, 2018. He further called on both public and private companies to scrap the experience requirement.

However, his call was not effective as many companies still require two to five years’ experience for entry-level jobs.

Initiatives such as the YES program and the Presidential Youth Employment Intervention (PYEI) only offer the youth 12 months of internships and temporary work. This is another issue that the youth are confronted with, as 8 out of 10 interns do not get permanently employed after the programmes. Therefore, they must start looking for other jobs which, in most cases, 5 out of 8 do not get them.

As mentioned, the experience requirement is not the only employment barrier that the youth is facing. Ramaphosa’s focus must not be narrow. 

Firstly, the quality of education that is provided from primary to tertiary is a major down slope to the employability criteria. The government must invest in educational programs and teachings that cater for coding, technology, engineering, IT as we are moving towards the world of Fourth Industrial Revolution (4IR).

The Covid-19 pandemic also took a toll on South Africans, especially in the work industry. Three million people lost their jobs during lockdown, which drastically increased the number of unemployed youths. Subsequent to this, Ramaphosa’s administration has not made an adequate effort to help the country to recover from the pandemic. Therefore, many people remain unemployed.

In addition to the baneful effects of the Covid-19 pandemic, South Africa is currently confronted by an energy crisis ‘load shedding’. Consequently, many private businesses had to let go of their employees, and some closed down. This is another increase in the rate of youth unemployment and an ongoing downstream to poverty as businesses cannot function properly without electricity. As Ramaphosa said, he is not obligated to provide South Africans with electricity.