06 Dec 2020

Minister of Youth Empowerment, Sport and Culture Development, Mr Tumiso Rakgare says he will present to Parliament cabinet’s decision on the review of the internship programme.

Responding to a motion from Palapye MP, Mr Onneetse Ramogapi, who had requested government to consider increasing the internship allowance, Mr Rakgare said he shared the sentiments with the mover of the motion, but said due to budgetary constraints, the increment was unattainable.

He said when the programme started, small numbers enrolled, hence the P2 000 threshold. He said looking at the high number of unemployed graduates, government decided to increase the enrollment and decrease the allowance to accommodate more graduates.

He said besides the allowance, the underlying objective was skills transfer and preparing graduates for the world of work to meet employer’s expectations.

He said funds permitting, government was prepared to review several projects, not only internship, to their full potential.

Minister Rakgare said they had engaged relevant stakeholders and internship programme supervisors and he would revert to Parliament after meeting cabinet in two weeks.

He said allowance increment was part of the discussion and they had made a promise that government would consider the request in the next financial year.

He, however, said Mr Ramogapi’s proposed P3 000 was unattainable due to the economic strain.

He said the current enrolment was 3 608, which would mean an increment of P129 million annually.

He said his ministry had worked with the likes of UNDP and had a report that could only be shared after the cabinet meeting.

He said the ministry would take recommendations to the cabinet for approval.

He admitted that the current allowances were minimal in comparison to daily expenses and lack of remuneration during maternity leave were some of the conditions to be reviewed.

He said generally the consultations were meant to improve certain areas of the programme.

He said the government wanted to see high absorption rate into permanent employment.

However, the motion sparked mixed reactions among MPs. Ngami MP Mr Carter Hikuama said the request was a brilliant idea as the cost of living was exceedingly high.

He said the current allowance was way below what was prescribed by international standards as the minimum living wage.

He said the programme, besides skills transfer, was meant to mitigate joblessness.

He said the allowance must be able to cover basic needs.

For his part, Thamaga/Kumakwane MP, Mr Palelo Motaosane said he had long advocated for the review of the conditions of service for intern officers.

He told Parliament that life dynamics had changed and the allowances needed to be reviewed too.

He appealed to the private sector to contribute and urged government to look into the matter with the urgency it deserved.

Assistant Minister of Local Government and Rural Development, Mr Setlhabelo Modukanele said the motion was not addressing the underlying objective of the programme, which was the transfer of skills. He said the government must be interested in empowering intern officers so that they accumulated the necessary skills for future endeavours.

Ghanzi South MP, Mr Motsamai Motsamai described the mover of the motion as a visionary leader.

He said some intern officers were from poor backgrounds and were breadwinners in their respective homes.

He said the increment would lift the heavy financial burden off many families.

Minister of Local Government and Rural Development, Mr Eric Molale said the request was not attainable.

He said Mr Ramogapi’s request did not reflect prudent use of resources, adding that government was planning to collapse over 29 programmes into five for efficiency purposes.

He, therefore, requested the mover of the motion to allow the minister to implement his plans.

Selebi Phikwe West MP, Mr Dithapelo Keorapetse said the current allowance was an indication of slave wages.

He said he had received reports of abuse and sexual harassment on  intern officers.

He urged government to establish a linkage between intern database and graduate database.

Mr Keorapetse advised students at tertiary institutions to get part-time employment where possible. Ends