Ramaphosa's maiden SONA focuses on economic growth

President Cyril Ramaphosa promised the youth in his maiden State of the Nation Address (SONA) that government will intensify its efforts to reduce the staggering rate of unemployment.

Ramaphosa singled out youth unemployment as government's biggest challenge. 

The newly elected president acknowledged that the country is facing many difficulties including corruption in state-owned entities, the delivery of basic services and sluggish economic growth. 

He promised young South Africans that they would be moved to the centre of the economic agenda and that government will convene a jobs summit for those entering the workforce.

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"One of the initiatives will be to convene a jobs summit within the next few months to align the efforts of every sector and every stakeholder behind the imperative of job creation," said Ramaphosa.

Ramaphosa said this would go hand-in-hand with reducing the involvement of youth crime. 

"The introduction of a Youth Crime Prevention Strategy will empower and support young people to be self-sufficient and become involved in crime fighting initiatives."

His address is set to be debated in Parliament on Monday.