From the President’s Desk: Creating Work and Opportunities for South Africa’s Youth

By DSD News.

• ⁠South Africa’s youth are full of potential, but many face barriers to finding work and building a future, and Youth Day observed on 16 June serves as a reminder of the country’s responsibility to create more opportunities for them.
• Government has introduced several programmes to support youth employment, training and entrepreneurship, but more needs to be done, especially through partnerships with the private sector.
• ⁠The goal is to equip young people with the tools and opportunities they need to succeed in a growing and competitive economy.

The Presidential Employment Stimulus and the Presidential Youth Employment Intervention were created to provide real support to young South Africans entering the labour market. Since 2020, the Employment Stimulus has delivered more than two million job and livelihood opportunities. Young people make up 72 percent of participants and women account for 66 percent.
A key tool in these efforts is SAYouth.mobi, a zero-rated platform that connects job seekers to training and work opportunities. With more than 4.7 million young South Africans now registered, the platform has already helped facilitate over 1.6 million earning opportunities. This is a powerful example of how digital platforms can bridge the gap between talent and opportunity.
One of the most common frustrations among young people is the requirement for prior work experience in entry-level jobs. To address this, government removed the experience requirement for public sector entry-level roles in 2019. At the same time, the Youth Employment Service, a public-private collaboration, has placed tens of thousands of young people in real-world work placements across multiple industries.
Vocational training is another priority. Government has increased funding to TVET colleges and opened new campuses. Every year, thousands of learners and graduates are placed in practical training programmes to support their transition into the world of work.
Entrepreneurship is an important pathway to economic inclusion, but South Africa’s rates of entrepreneurial activity remain low. Through the Presidential Youth Employment Intervention, government is working with the National Youth Development Agency and the Department of Small Business Development to provide support for youth-led businesses. This includes funding, business training and access to tools and networks.
These interventions are creating new possibilities for young people to build their own futures, especially in communities where formal employment is scarce.
While government has made significant progress, long-term success depends on strong partnerships. The private sector is encouraged to use platforms such as SAYouth.mobi and take advantage of incentives like the Employee Tax Incentive to recruit young talent.
South Africa’s young people deserve lives of dignity, purpose and progress. As a country, we are strongest when we act together. Through shared effort and commitment, we can ensure that every young person has the chance to find work, gain skills and contribute to a better future for all.