Last week Gauteng Premier David Makhura announced that his government
will increase the enrolment of young women who received child support grants
into skills program.
 
One such person is Nteboheng Molefi from Braamfischerville in Soweto.
Last year, in August she started a course as a beautician. Molefe learnt a lot
in the beauty hub, can now do massages, facials, manicures, pedicures, make-up
and tinting (coloring eyebrows and eyelashes).
 
She joined the Beauty hub last year August and she is due to complete in
June.
 
“When growing up my passion was always in the beauty industry. The
minute I learned about this program I grabbed this opportunity. With the skill
and knowledge I gained I am going to establish my own beauty spa and create
jobs. I am grateful to Gauteng Department of Social Development, they created a
platform for us young women to live our dreams”, she added.
 
The program was launched in 2013 targeting young mothers between the
ages of 18 and 25 who are recipients of social grants.
 
There are over 1.8 Million young people dependent on social grants. To
reduce dependency on the welfare system of the state, the Department expanded
the Welfare to Work Program. Young people are recruited and trained in the
field of Hospitality, Photography, Real Estate, Artisan, Hair and Beauty.
 
More than 28 000 women in Gauteng have been taken off social grants and
are instead being empowered to take up their rightful place as part of South
Africa’s working class.
 
During the State of the Province Address Premier Makhura announced that
his government will upscale Welfare-to-Work programme to enable 100 000 unemployed
young women who currently depend on state grants, to graduate to
self-employment in the township economy.