Agri graduates camping in the cold in quest for jobs

Agricultural studies graduates have been camping outside the National Treasury and the Department of Land Reform and Rural Development offices in Pretoria.

They are demanding the reinstatement of funding for Assistant Agricultural Practitioners.

They say their Assistant Agricultural Practitioners’ contracts were prematurely terminated nine months ago.

Apparently, 5 000 young graduates were affected by the move.

The young people are now demanding their jobs back and the reinstatement of the funding by Treasury.

They have taken to social media to share the pain of having studied for years only to languish at home without any source of income.

The graduates say they have been marching and submitting memos to government since last year.

They’ve even written to the Presidency but there has been no response.

Day 4 of the camp.. Still no response from @ThokoDidiza
Ukhohlakele ngathi awuzalanga.. Kunani ukuza kuthi uzothetha nathi?@EGodongwana @ThokoDidiza @CyrilRamaphosa @DALRRDgov_ZA @DumaGqubule https://t.co/hDxXJFJ8dl

— Man_T (@Man_T98) May 16, 2024

Some of them have studied up to PhD level. They are urging farmers to employ young, innovative graduates as they have the know-how of using new technologies, which could help improve production.

“Employ the young and innovative graduates to bridge the gap in food security and fight high food prices.”

Dedicating so many years studying,yout parents struggling just to get you through University then you are not given a chance to make a living,these people are heartless @DALRRDgov_ZA@PresidencyZA @ZANewsFlash@MYANC#UnemployedAgricGraduates https://t.co/Glc50QjLPO

— Smie… (@SmieMkhize) May 16, 2024

Currently in South Africa the qualification don’t matter anymore because you become desperate for the job after years of studying.

Painful and ANC members with no qualifications want us to vote for them so they keep their lives good.#unemployementAgricGraduates https://t.co/1JbP9n2ZOo

— Sindisiwezimenzuza@g (@sindisiwezimen1) May 14, 2024

The protest comes amid devastating quarter 1 unemployment figures, showing that young people remain vulnerable in the job market.

According to the Stats SA report, 45.5% of South Africa’s young people are without jobs.

We will not rest until we are heard. #BringBackAAPJobs #ReinstateAAP #UnemployedAgricGraduates it’s Day 3 of the peaceful march today the march is taking place at the union building. @ThokoDidiza @CyrilRamaphosa @PresidencyZA @TreasuryRSA release the funds for the AAP program. pic.twitter.com/UuAHTjzYiZ

— Dee_Mel (@DeeMel98) May 15, 2024

The young people say government is not committed to empowering them.

They say they have been told, off the record, that the Treasury is refusing to allocate funds for their programme.

They plan to protest outside the Treasury on Monday.

To be of same age as freedom while you still struggle to be employed after you have graduated threats the life of an agricultural graduate. We still fighting after democracy. Kanti iphi eyethu inkululeko? #UnemployedAgricGraduates#ReinstateAAP pic.twitter.com/Ey93SjI1d1

— mcebowami (@mcebowami) April 30, 2024

The protestors say the ANC government must feel the pain at the ballot box.

“We implore young people to give the government the same faith that government is giving them at the ballot. It means they must do whatever it takes to outvote this rigid government that doesn’t listen. We’ve been camping here outside for a week. No one bothered to talk to us. We’ve even been to the Union Buildings, no one dared to talk to us. Those who did were just trying to score political points,” Marcus Tlabela told YNews.

Tlabela, however, says only Solly Mapaila from the SACP showed genuine concern for them.