The Eastern Cape Provincial Government marked Youth Day at Cacadu (Formerly Lady Frere), in the Chris Hani District Municipality, with a bold move to empower young agricultural entrepreneurs, handing over six tractors to youth-led farming enterprises across the province.

Premier Lubabalo Oscar Mabuyane, joined by Department of Agriculture MEC for Nonkqubela Pieters, led the handover ceremony aimed at tackling youth unemployment and food insecurity. Beneficiaries from six district municipalities received tractors as part of the province s broader strategy to enhance agricultural productivity and support emerging youth farmers.

"This is not just about agriculture. It s about skills development, job creation, and restoring dignity. We must move beyond dependency on government jobs and drive a culture of self-employment and enterprise development”, said Premier Mabuyane.

The tractor handover complements several youth-focused government initiatives. These include the R900 million Livelihoods and Agro-processing Programme (LAP), set to benefit 20,000 youth, and the Basic Education Employment Initiative (BEEI), which has created 28,000 opportunities in schools.

Additionally, the Isiqalo Youth Fund has already invested over R50 million in youth-owned businesses, while five SMMEs in the Chris Hani District recently received equipment through the AIDC-EC.

Premier Mabuyane called on government, business, and civil society to work in partnership to address unemployment, fight gender-based violence, and ensure youth participation in policymaking. Now is the time for bold, youth-led change that drives inclusive economic development,” he said.