By Charmaine Ndlela
The Gauteng Provincial Government says it is taking corrective action to revive the stalled Nasi Ispani Solar Technician Training Programme after procurement irregularities halted its implementation, while maintaining that the broader youth employment initiative continues to create thousands of opportunities across the province.
In a statement, Gauteng Premier Panyaza Lesufi said the Solar Technician Training Programme, launched in 2023 under the Nasi Ispani initiative, was suspended after irregularities were uncovered in the appointment of service providers.
The provincial government said the irregularities were identified through internal oversight processes, prompting immediate intervention.
As part of the corrective measures, the Gauteng City Region Academy (GCRA), which oversees the programme, has been transferred from the Gauteng Department of Education to the Office of the Premier to strengthen oversight and speed up intervention.
The government said the former GCRA chief executive officer has been suspended and remains under investigation, while a new CEO has been appointed to restore stability and strengthen governance at the entity.
The new leadership is reviewing all documentation related to the programme and is expected to submit recommendations to the Director-General.
Those recommendations will determine whether the current service providers will be reappointed through a compliant supply chain management process or whether new providers will be appointed to complete the project.
In the interim, existing service providers have been instructed to submit reports detailing the work completed to date.
Since its launch in June 2023, the Nasi Ispani programme has created more than 90,000 work and training opportunities across 13 initiatives, including Youth Brigades, Traffic Wardens, the Green Army and A-GE Lerona Road Workers.
The provincial government said it remains committed to rolling out Nasi Ispani 2.0, which aims to recruit an additional 45,000 participants.
Officials said the next phase will focus on equipping young people with practical skills in sectors such as plumbing, electrical work and construction, while expanding the Unemployed Youth Skills Development Initiative (UYSDI) to provide workplace experience.
Acknowledging the controversy surrounding the solar technician programme, the government said large-scale employment initiatives are not immune to abuse, but argued that isolated governance failures should not overshadow the programme’s broader achievements.
It said disciplinary action, including suspensions and investigations, forms part of efforts to strengthen accountability and address governance shortcomings.
The provincial government said it remains committed to strengthening and expanding the Nasi Ispani programme, describing the challenges as an opportunity to improve accountability while continuing to create employment and skills development opportunities for young people across Gauteng.
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