KNYSNA NEWS - To many, R1 000 and a certificate of completion may seem like a small thing - but to unemployed youth who've completed a learnership, they mean everything.

For a group of Knysna learners who finished the New Venture Creation level 2 skills programme in November 2024, those promised outcomes remain undelivered.

The programme, funded by the Services Seta and facilitated by Mitchell's Plain Community Advice and Development Projects in partnership with Arzasys, ran from August to November 2024.

Nearly a year later, learners say they have received only R2 000 of the R3 000 stipend, with no sign of the final R1 000 or the certificates they need to prove their achievement. 

"We've waited months, made countless follow-ups, and still have no answers," said Siyabonga Voya. "We feel abandoned."

In response, Moyisi Mangela (Arzasys), project manager of the programme at that time, said the delays stem from outstanding processes at Services Seta and the accreditation body.

 "We're still waiting for results verification and final stipend payments. We are following up regularly, but no confirmed timelines are available yet," Mangela stated.

For learners who are unemployed and hoping to improve their prospects, the lack of closure is more than a delay - it's a broken promise. "The group is now going public in the hope that transparency will pressure the responsible parties to deliver what was promised," said Voya.

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