​The Gauteng Provincial Government (GPG) Premier David Makhura has applauded the work done by Umnotho for Empowerment, a Non-Profit Organisation (NPO) funded by the Gauteng Department of Social Development to provide accredited skills development programmes to the youth. 
Umnotho for Empowerment, based at Muldersdrift in the West Rand Region, has placed more than 300 beneficiaries in the tourism sector following completion of training in the current financial year. 

Speaking during the State of the Province Address 2022 (SOPA) at Brixton Multipurpose Centre on Monday, Premier Makhura said Umnotho for Empowerment has operated successfully for 12 years and has survived the COVID-19 pandemic due to government support. 

“We are implementing a ‘single window’ urban poverty and hunger elimination strategy with improved targeting via a multidimensional, integrated approach,” he said. 

“The War on Poverty Profiling Programme has been leveraged as a central repository where information is collected on targeted communities in the province.”

“In 2020 during the preliminary stages of the nationwide lockdown, a total of 2,889,695 people benefitted from our food security programmes, and our food relief efforts were boosted by generous donations by many organisations across society.” 

“In addition, 235,931 school uniform packs and 2,338,368 dignity packs were distributed, and a total of 39,522 young women have participated in the Welfare-to-Work Programme,” said Makhura.

He further stated that going forward, the Gauteng Provincial Government will aim to upscale the welfare-to-work programme to reach 100 000 young women, by transitioning them from welfare into decent employment and providing them with skills or further education opportunities.