The Gauteng Provincial Government has announced the official relaunch of its flagship Nasi Ispani initiative, set to take place on 6 September 2025. The programme, spearheaded by Gauteng Premier Panyaza Lesufi, will focus on skills development and training for unemployed youth and adults, empowering them to contribute directly to the maintenance and improvement of public infrastructure.
The relaunch comes at a critical time as unemployment rates remain a national challenge, with young people most affected. The provincial government says Nasi Ispani will provide practical, hands-on training opportunities while reducing dependence on costly outsourcing for minor public works projects.
Turning Skills Into Jobs
Lesufi emphasized that the unemployed will no longer be sidelined from economic activity but will instead be empowered to “build, repair, and maintain government social infrastructure.”
“We can’t go for tenders to repair broken road signs, fix fences at graveyards, or paint schools and community centres,” Lesufi said. “The unemployed must take part in this work. Each technical school in our townships will be converted into massive training centres to re-skill the unemployed and assist the state to fix our social infrastructure.”
Training and Job Roles
The programme will focus on technical and vocational skills, including:
- Road and street sign repairs
- Fencing and basic construction
- Painting and renovations of schools and community halls
- General maintenance of social infrastructure
By aligning unemployed citizens with these practical roles, the government hopes to build a self-sustaining model that addresses both the unemployment crisis and service delivery challenges.
Community-Centred Development
The Gauteng Provincial Government views the initiative as part of a broader effort to “build the capacity of the state” and reduce reliance on tenders and private contractors for basic maintenance tasks. This approach not only saves costs but also provides income opportunities and career pathways for thousands of unemployed South Africans.
Public Response and Next Steps
The relaunch has been met with mixed reactions online. Many South Africans welcomed the idea of empowering communities with new skills, while others called for clear implementation plans to ensure that the initiative leads to sustainable jobs beyond short-term projects.
The official launch event on 6 September will outline the training framework, eligibility criteria, and registration process for participants.
A Path to Empowerment
With unemployment being one of South Africa’s most pressing socio-economic issues, Nasi Ispani represents a bold attempt to create jobs, enhance service delivery, and restore dignity to unemployed citizens by equipping them with skills that directly benefit their communities.
As Lesufi put it, this is about more than just jobs, it’s about “taking back the unemployed to train, re-skill, and empower them to build the future of our townships and cities.”
