Youth wage subsidy tops agenda at ANC lekgotla

ANC secretary-general Gwede Mantashe. Picture: Leon Sadiki/City Press

The youth wage subsidy is one of the issues that will be topping the agenda at the ANC’s national executive committee 3-day lekgotla, which started outside Pretoria this afternoon.

ANC secretary-general Gwede Mantashe told journalists at a briefing the party is currently referring to it as a “youth wage incentive” and there would be more clarity about the form this would take after the lekgotla.

ANC policy head Jeff Radebe added the party would have a bilateral meeting about this issue with Cosatu before President Jacob Zuma delivers his State of the Nation Address on February 14.

The matter has been stuck in discussions for three years after Zuma announced the subsidy in 2010 and after R5 billion was set aside for it in 2011.

Cosatu is opposed to the subsidy, saying it would put older workers out of jobs.

The ANC would also be focussing on getting a firmer grip on government policy, and not just monitoring, and a special commission at its lekgotla would be discussing the matter, Mantashe said.

The mood at the start of the lekgotla was jovial, yet the members attending appeared focused.

Zuma, wearing a yellow ANC T-shirt with a light-brown leather jacket, joked with his ANC deputy, Cyril Ramaphosa, as they sat on the stage with the other four officials when journalists were allowed in for a photo opportunity.

The lekgotla, to which high-ranking government officials and ministers who are not on the NEC were also invited, is set to finish on Saturday.