President Thabo Mbeki has urged unemployed South Africans to create their own job opportunities through the setting up of small businesses.
Addressing Lwandle community members near Cape Town at a presidential imbizo on Saturday, Mbeki told the unemployed to utilise the several business support programmes which the government had set up for their benefit.
”The government has put aside money to help you start your own businesses — you must utilise these opportunities.”
Speaking in isiXhosa, Mbeki said it was not the government’s responsibility to create jobs.
”All what government can do is to create an environment conducive for job creation.”
Mbeki was responding to some of the many problems which the residents had put before him, including lack of housing, sanitation and schools.
The residents welcomed the president with thunderous applause, chanting, ”Mbeki! Mbeki!”.
He was accompanied by Western Cape premier Ibrahim Rasool, Cape Town mayor Helen Zille, provincial ministers and Cabinet ministers. – Sapa