(AsgiSA) Annual Report 2008 - South African Government Information

Accelerated and Shared Growth Initiative for South Africa
ANNUAL REPORT
2008
3.6.3 Preferential procurement for small and medium-sized enterprises
Consultation workshops on the 10 products to be procured from SMEs were conducted with five provincial
treasuries. This awareness drive was then moved to an implementation stage focusing on the
completion of the practice notes and follow-up activities related to the launch of these products.
Some departments such as public works have started implementing the project. However, implementation
is slow. Issuing practice notes takes time.
3.6.4 Khula small and medium-sized loans reached R746 million in 2007
Approvals to Khula channel partners totalled R607 million in 2007/08 (2007: R757 million). For the
second time, loans approved to Retail Financial Intermediaries (RFIs) exceeded those of the Credit Indemnity
Guarantee Scheme used mainly by commercial banks.
3.6.5 Jobs for growth
The Co-operative Development Unit has facilitated the process of assisting co-operatives to be part of
Msanzi collection stores in contributing to jobs for growth. A number of co-operatives had opportunity
to exhibit their products in the store since the launch of the stores. Those that didn’t make first intake
will be given first priority for the second intake after 31 March 2009. A number of co-operatives have
been registered under jobs for growth.
3.6.6 Young people
The National Youth Service Programme (NYSP) is a second-economy government initiative led by the
National Youth Commission (NYC), The Presidency (Youth Desk) and the Umsobomvu Youth Fund (UYF).
It was initiated in October 2003 as a special Presidential Programme to address high levels of youth unemployment
by creating opportunities for voluntary service and skills development for young people.
The programme supports community and national development while simultaneously providing an
opportunity for young people to access opportunities for skills development, employment and income
generation.
In 2008/09, the NYS experienced growth in terms of reach and scale. To date, the figures indicate
that 36 019 unemployed and unskilled young people have participated in NYS Category One projects
(youth employment); 3 760 volunteers from 15 Higher Education and Training institutions (HETs) have
been mobilised to serve in Category Two volunteer projects (higher education [HE] and FET students);
and 7 968 volunteers registered and participated in Category Three (all cohorts of youth and adults)
projects.
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