Legal steps announced against Yes4Youth on behalf of an unemployed young person
21 November 2018
“Yes4Youth is telling young white unemployed persons like those in Danville that they do not deserve help and that they are privileged, while their black neighbour or even the son or daughter of a wealthy black Sandton businessman apparently needs a kick-start.”
This is how Paul Maritz, the coordinator of Solidarity Youth responded to the exclusion practiced in the Yes4Youth programme at a press conference today in Danville. On the occasion Solidarity Youth announced legal action against the youth unemployment programme, Yes4Youth, that excludes the white unemployed on the grounds of race.
“It is astonishing that government and the companies that associate themselves with the programme believe it is acceptable to discriminate against the poor in society, simply because the colour of their skin is not right,” Maritz said.
At the press conference Solidarity Youth announced that it would take legal action on behalf of one of its members, Danie van der Merwe, who is unemployed and who is excluded from this programme because of his skin colour.