Gauteng Premier Panyaza Lesufi seems already hard at work at reducing unemployment and building skills among the youth. This is as he launched the new programme led by the provincial government to train 6 000 previously unemployed members of the youth to install solar panels.

Lesufi announced this new initiative in Midrand yesterday, where young people were already queued to apply. 

The programme will see 6 000 young people who have matric certificates, trained for 12 months and paid a monthly stipend of a minimum of R4 000. Youth members will be able to earn up to R7 000 depending on their qualification.

The Premier expressed that preference would be given to those from previously disadvantaged areas, adding that this programme is not an attempt at clenching votes ahead of next year's general elections.

After the 12 months of training, the graduates will receive an NQF level 5 qualification.

This is not the first initiative launched within the province, with the most recent one seeing over 3 000 youth members employed as crime wardens to help alleviate crime in the province.

According to Lesufi, the newly launched solar panel training initiative will not be the last one afforded to young people, adding that more announcements of this kind will be made in the future.