MINISTER TOLASHE CALLS FOR BOLD DIGITAL ACTION TO ACCELERATE YOUTH EMPLOYMENT AT EPWP SOCIAL SECTOR CONFERENCE

By Precious Mupenzi

• ⁠Minister Tolashe urges urgent, collaborative action to tackle youth unemployment through digital innovation in the social sector.
• Expanded Public Works Programme (EPWP) Social Sector Conference positions digital skills as central to expanding public employment opportunities towards the 2030 targets.
• Stakeholders are challenged to harness Africa’s rapidly growing youth population by investing in digital skills, innovation and inclusive economic participation, turning the continent’s demographic growth into a powerful driver of sustainable development rather than a risk to social and economic stability.

“The dreams of our young people cannot be deferred anymore.”

With these powerful words, the Minister of Social Development, Ms Nokuzola Sisisi Tolashe, set the tone for the Expanded Public Works Programme (EPWP) Social Sector Conference currently underway in KwaZulu-Natal, calling for urgent, bold and collaborative action to address youth unemployment through digital innovation.

Addressing delegates in Durban on Tuesday, 24 February 2026, Minister Tolashe positioned the three-day gathering as a strategic response to South Africa’s unemployment crisis and a platform to “revolutionise access to social services through digital skills.”

Referencing President Cyril Ramaphosa’s recent State of the Nation Address, the Minister reminded delegates that while programmes such as the EPWP and Community Works Programme have created opportunities, the country cannot claim easy victories. At the same time, millions of South Africans continue to struggle to secure work and income to support their families.

She emphasised that the creation of decent employment opportunities remains a top priority of the 7th Administration under the Government of National Unity, noting that the social sector carries a historic responsibility to lead in expanding public employment pathways.

The Minister challenged stakeholders to ensure that, by the close of the conference, the sector would be better positioned to meaningfully respond to the ambitious target of creating over one million job opportunities by 2030.

Highlighting Africa’s projected population growth to 2.5 billion by 2050, with young people forming the majority, Minister Tolashe posed a critical question to delegates: how can South Africa harness its youth population to realise a demographic dividend rather than face deepening unemployment?

She warned that failure to unlock the talent, imagination and energy of young people could cast a shadow over the country’s economic growth, describing the conference as a strategic platform bringing together government, private sector and community partners to strengthen collaboration in addressing this national imperative.

Reflecting on more than two decades of impact, the Minister noted that the EPWP Social Sector has improved the lives of vulnerable South Africans through services in childcare, home- and community-based care, school nutrition, sport and community safety initiatives. She said testimonies from beneficiaries demonstrate both the reach of the programme and the resilience of communities.

A key focus of the conference is the integration of digital skills into the social sector, which the Minister acknowledged has been a relative latecomer to the digital revolution. She welcomed efforts to reimagine the EPWP’s digital future, ensuring the sector remains relevant and future-ready as it enters Phase Five of implementation.

The Minister highlighted innovations already emerging across sectors, including digital health tools, e-learning platforms in education, digital registries in social development and AI-driven models of community engagement, stressing the importance of scaling these initiatives.

“Our task is to scale these innovations by digitally empowering our young people with essential skills, providing access to technology, and fostering innovation to boost employment opportunities and entrepreneurship in the sector,” she said.

In closing, Minister Tolashe urged delegates to “think boldly, act collaboratively, and commit wholeheartedly to building a digitally skilled, socially responsive and inclusive South Africa.”

With the 2030 Sustainable Development Goals and National Development Plan milestones fast approaching, the message from the conference is clear: decisive action is needed now to ensure that no young person is left behind.