Johannesburg – About 35 000 jobs have been created in rural areas in the past four years, says the department of rural development and land reform.

“The introduction of rural development as an extra mandate of the department of rural development and land reform created 35 000 jobs and provided 17 279 individuals with various skills so they can help themselves,” spokesperson Mtobeli Mxotwa said in a statement.

Mxotwa said the department’s enterprise development arm generated 16 044 of these jobs, while infrastructure development created 5 838 jobs. 

This was reinforced with the enrolment of 12 881 rural youths into the skills training programme called the national rural youth service corps (Narysec)

“Narysec youths are recruited from the 3 000 rural wards between the ages of 18 and 35, irrespective of gender and any disability.

“They are trained in various skills like waste water management, water purification, construction, electricity and agriculture so they can be marketable and also so that they can open their own businesses,” said Mxotwa.

The rural development jobs were created through various initiatives such as building of bridges, schools, health facilities and the construction of roads.

SAPA