Lesufi launches Nasi iSpani 2.0 with 45,000 youth job opportunities in Gauteng

Lesufi launches Nasi iSpani 2.0 with 45,000 job opportunities for Gauteng youth

Gauteng Premier Panyaza Lesufi has unveiled the second phase of the province’s flagship youth employment initiative, Nasi iSpani 2.0, promising 45,000 new opportunities aimed at tackling unemployment and restoring vital infrastructure.

Speaking during a media briefing, Lesufi said the programme will not only provide jobs but also equip young people with technical skills that are in short supply across the province.

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Building skills to fix Gauteng

In this new phase, participants will be trained as bricklayers, plumbers, welders, and artisans to help fix crumbling infrastructure. From potholes and traffic lights to schools and clinics, the youth workforce will be deployed where Gauteng needs it most.

“We cannot keep relying on overpriced contractors and endless tender disputes,” Lesufi said. “The state must build its own capacity. Nasi iSpani will equip unemployed youth with skills and deploy them to fix our communities.”

Addressing the jobs crisis

Youth unemployment remains one of South Africa’s most urgent challenges. In Gauteng, the economic engine of the country, thousands of young people remain locked out of the job market despite holding matric certificates and qualifications.

Lesufi said Nasi iSpani 2.0 is designed to close that gap by linking skills training directly to service delivery. Successful applicants will gain both work experience and qualifications that improve their long-term employability.

Scaling up impact

The initiative forms part of the provincial government’s wider strategy to create sustainable employment pathways, particularly for young people. By prioritising public infrastructure repairs, Lesufi said the programme strikes two critical targets at once: fixing failing services while offering jobs and hope to the unemployed.

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Community expectations

While the announcement has been welcomed, communities are calling for transparency in recruitment and equitable access to opportunities. Civil society groups stress that programmes like Nasi iSpani must not only provide short-term relief but also serve as stepping stones into permanent work.

Lesufi acknowledged those concerns but emphasised that the initiative is a long-term investment in Gauteng’s youth.

“Our vision is simple: give our young people the tools to rebuild their province, and they will rebuild their own future,” he concluded.