Home Affairs Minister Malusi Gigaba says government has set an annual target to appoint 20 000 youths in internship, learnership and artisan development programmes in the public service.

The Minister made the announcement when chairing the Governance and Administration Cluster briefing on Thursday.

“During the Medium Term Strategic Framework period from 2015 to 2018, government departments will recruit a minimum of 80 000 unemployed youth and graduates into internship, learnership and apprenticeship programmes.

“The aim is to strengthen the State’s capacity with technical and specialist professional skills,” he said.

During the 2014/15 financial year, a total of 44 739 interns, learners and artisan trainees were recruited into the public service. Of these, 6 416 have been employed, with 5 644 being permanently employed and 772 employed on contracts.

SOURCE: SOUTH AFRICAN GOVERNMENT NEWS AGENCY