Mr Speaker, the ANC government in Gauteng has partnered with the Gauteng City Region Academy in the training of young women as auxiliary social workers, shop fitters, air-conditioner technicians and lift technicians. An additional 1 000 young women will also receive training through various skills development programmes, giving them the opportunity to earn a decent living instead of relying on government grants.
Moreover, the government has plans to establish 15 co-operatives in previously disadvantaged areas where the community will render cleaning, gardening and laundry services to the government. This effort is part of the ANC plan to address poverty by empowering people with skills while creating adequate social means to protect the most vulnerable in our society.
The ANC believes that these interventions should be encouraged and should be implemented in other provinces, because they seek to develop exit programmes that capacitate households and communities to empower themselves. I thank you. [Applause.]