Premier Refilwe Mtshweni-Tsipane has announced the extension of the deadline for applications for the Premier’s Youth Development Fund.
The premier seeks to attract the youth to apply in large numbers for the grant, and is regarded as a decisive step and an aggressive strategy to realise its objectives.
The due date, February 24, has now been extended to March 17. The Development Fund was established to support youth-led enterprises in Mpumalanga, amid the high unemployment rate. The extension followed a two-week outreach programme in which the Office of the Premier, in collaboration with several local municipalities, visited the youth to guide them on the application process.
Mtshweni-Tsipane said the extension is a vital cog to afford the youth sufficient time to apply.
“We have allowed this extension so that most of our young people apply. We don’t want to leave out anyone who has the potential to grow our economy from the programme,” she said.
A total of 97 businesses owned by the youth have been supported since the fund was established. R140m has been allocated in this regard. In the current financial year, about 36 businesses have been approved for funding, with a total amount of R92.3m disbursed.
Mtshweni-Tsipane said the highest ethical standard of adjudication will be maintained to ensure that only legitimate applications are approved. “The process will be subjected to a rigorous process of adjudication and verification. We will ensure that only the youth from Mpumalanga with legitimate businesses are approved for financial support.”
Application forms are available
on www.mpumalanga.gov.za.
