KZN’S INTEGRATED YOUTH DEVELOPMENT STRATEGY ALLOWS YOUNG PEOPLE TO REWRITE THEIR STORIES

By Trevor Khuzwayo and Nokukhanya Mpungose

• The KwaZulu-Natal Department of Social Development is helping young people through vocational training, entrepreneurial workshops and job placement support.
• Sipho Dlamini is one of those people who were helped through this initiative – he is now employed as a security officer.
• Dlamini was one of 76 graduates from the Harry Gwala District’s skills development programme.

At 22 Sipho Dlamini had almost given up on finding work. Growing up in a child-headed household in rural KwaZulu-Natal, opportunities felt as distant as the horizon.

But on 6 March 2025, he stood in a crisp security uniform, grinning as he received his certificate from the KwaZulu-Natal Department of Social Development.

Dlamini is one of 76 graduates from the Harry Gwala District’s skills development programme, and one of two already hired by local security firms

“This changed everything,” he says. “Now I can take care of my siblings and dream bigger.” 

A lifeline for vulnerable youth

The graduation ceremony at Soweto Hall in the Ubuhlebezwe municipality was more than a celebration, it was a symbol of hope in a province where youth unemployment hovers near 60%.

The KwaZulu-Natal Department of Social Development’s initiative targets marginalised groups: youth ageing out of foster care; young mothers reliant on grants;  persons with disabilities; and those like Sipho, who shoulder adult responsibilities too soon.

The programme, part of the province’s Integrated Youth Development Strategy, blends vocational training, entrepreneurship workshops, and job placement support. 

“We’re not just handing out certificates,” explains the province’s social development MEC, Mbali Shinga. “We’re dismantling barriers. These young people have survived hardships most of us can’t imagine. Now, we’re equipping them to thrive.” 

The programme’s success lies in its coalition of partners. Inkunzi Security Services and Zincume Security Services hired Dlamini and another graduate, while the Mangosuthu University of Technology provided technical training.

The Technology Innovation Agency and the Small Enterprise Development Agency offered entrepreneurship mentoring, and Ezemvelo KZN Wildlife integrated environmental stewardship into the curriculum. 

“Collaboration is key,” says Zodwa Ndlovu, the CEO of Inkunzi Security. “We train them in surveillance tech and soft skills – punctuality, communication. These youth aren’t just employees; they’re ambassadors for resilience.” 

For many graduates, the programme’s impact transcends paychecks.

Nomvula Khoza, a 24-year-old single mother from Ubuhlebezwe, described how the childcare support and business courses helped her launch a small tailoring cooperative. “I’m no longer ‘just’ a grant recipient,” she says. “I’m a businesswoman.” 

Officials emphasise this psychological shift. “Economic participation restores dignity,” notes Harry Gwala District Deputy Mayor Tiny Nosisa Jojozi.

“When a young person contributes to their household, it ripples through families, schools, and markets.” 

While the programme marks progress, challenges persist.

South Africa’s youth unemployment crisis remains dire, exacerbated by systemic inequalities.

While MEC Shinga acknowledges this, she insists scaling partnerships is the answer. Plans are underway to expand courses in agribusiness, renewable energy, and digital literacy, leveraging ties with the Department of Agriculture and the Technology Innovation Agency. 

As the ceremony concluded, Dlamini lingered in the hall, adjusting his new security badge. Nearby, MEC Shinga smiled. “Today, 76 young people are rewriting their stories,” she said.