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IOL News
4 days ago
- Politics
- IOL News
HOW GNU WORSENED YOUTH'S PLIGHT
PROBLEM: Youth unemployment crisis in South Africa Image: Ron Lach/Pexels THE 46.1% unemployment rate among young people, the worst in the world, is proof that the Government of National Unity (GNU) has no plans to address the crisis, say political analysts. Monday marked 49 years since the 1976 Soweto Uprising where scores of youth protested against Afrikaans being enforced as the exclusive medium of instruction in African schools. Unemployment among young people dominated Monday's commemoration, with questions being raised about the effectiveness of the GNU since its establishment about a year ago following the May 2024 elections. Young people between the ages of 15 and 34 make up just over half of South Africa's working-age population, about 20.9 million people. The latest data from the Quarterly Labour Force Survey shows that more than half of young people aged between 18 and 34 are unemployed. Deputy President Paul Mashatile conceded on Monday that this is one of the highest levels the country has ever seen, and it is of grave concern University of the Free State politics lecturer, Sanet Solomons said unemployment and access to quality education remained a challenge as hundreds of schools remain understaffed and under-resourced. 'This is detrimental to those that show promise as their environmental challenges will overshadow their capabilities, leaving them stuck in a cycle of poverty. To date thousands of graduates still have not managed to access the workforce; while some earn a minimum wage that can barely cover their household expenses amid the rising cost of living. Thus, reinforcing the sentiment that very few opportunities exist for this segment of society. Many expected a different outcome or better opportunities under a government of national unity, but these hopes have been dashed as the youth still struggles decades later. As the country commemorates this day, it should be mindful of those who live in poverty with limited access to opportunities. Better needs to be done for them," she said. Video Player is loading. Play Video Play Unmute Current Time 0:00 / Duration -:- Loaded : 0% Stream Type LIVE Seek to live, currently behind live LIVE Remaining Time - 0:00 This is a modal window. Beginning of dialog window. Escape will cancel and close the window. Text Color White Black Red Green Blue Yellow Magenta Cyan Transparency Opaque Semi-Transparent Background Color Black White Red Green Blue Yellow Magenta Cyan Transparency Opaque Semi-Transparent Transparent Window Color Black White Red Green Blue Yellow Magenta Cyan Transparency Transparent Semi-Transparent Opaque Font Size 50% 75% 100% 125% 150% 175% 200% 300% 400% Text Edge Style None Raised Depressed Uniform Dropshadow Font Family Proportional Sans-Serif Monospace Sans-Serif Proportional Serif Monospace Serif Casual Script Small Caps Reset restore all settings to the default values Done Close Modal Dialog End of dialog window. Advertisement Next Stay Close ✕ Political analyst professor Sipho Seepe said the GNU had prioritised 'nothing beyond spending an inordinate amount of time trying to justify its existence'. 'Last year was all about internecine bickering. This stems from major flaws in foundations. The ANC's share of the vote declined by a humongous 17 percent in one electoral cycle. This is a damning statement than Ramaphosa's version that says the voters wanted political parties to work together. On the other hand, the DA is on record in ensuring that the demise of the ANC happens pretty soon. There is no love lost between the ANC and the DA. Under the ANC-DA coalition, unemployment among the youth continues to skyrocket to unmanageable levels.' He said the ANC of Ramaphosa has not only failed but has reversed whatever gains were made in the last 30 years. 'So there is nothing that the youth should expect from it beyond revolutionary sounding statements signifying nothing,' said Seepe. Addressing the National Youth Day commemoration, in Potchefstroom, North West on Monday, Mashatile said was also deeply worrying was the growing number of young people who are not in education, employment, or training. 'The current figure stands at about 3.8 million. Among 15–24-year-olds, 37.1% fall into this category, with young women being slightly more affected than young men. If we look at the wider age group of 15–34 years, the rate is even higher at 45.1%. Even our graduates are struggling, with nearly 1 in 4 graduates (23.9%) struggling to gain employment. This is more than just an economic issue. It is a moral emergency. We must fix the structural challenges in our economy to address inequality and skills mismatch between education and what the job market needs.'
eNCA
5 days ago
- Business
- eNCA
Youth unemployment soars: A call for urgent action
JOHANNESBURG - As we celebrate Youth Month, young people are asking for more chances to find jobs. This is because the unemployment rate in the country keeps getting worse. The Department of Labour recently released new statistics showing that the youth unemployment rate is now at a shocking 46.1 percent. Many young people are not just looking for jobs; they are also trying to gain skills and knowledge for the careers they want to pursue. The country is sitting with thousands of graduates who are unemployed because they lack work experience. But how can they get experience if they are not given a chance to work and learn? According to the Quarterly Labour Force Survey by Statistics South Africa for the first quarter of 2025: - The number of unemployed youth increased by 151,000, reaching 4.8 million. - Employed youth decreased by 153,000, now totalling 5.7 million. - The youth unemployment rate went up from 44.6 percent at the end of 2024 to 46.1 percent in the first quarter of 2025. Looking at the overall labour market: - The total number of employed people fell by 291,000, now at 16.8 million. - The number of unemployed people increased by 237,000, reaching 8.2 million. - The total labour force decreased by 54,000 during this period. Additionally: - Discouraged work-seekers (people who want jobs but have given up looking) increased slightly by 7,000. - The number of people not working for reasons other than discouragement rose by 177,000, making the total not economically active population grow by 184,000 to 16.7 million. by Tshenolo Khaile
IOL News
5 days ago
- Politics
- IOL News
Sadtu calls for urgent measures to address youth unemployment
The South African Democratic Teachers' Union (Sadtu) said it salutes the youth of 1976 for their bravery, unity, and undying spirit. This year's Youth Month is observed under the theme: 'Skills for the Changing World – Empowering Youth for Meaningful Economic Participation.' To fully grasp the significance of 16 June, one must understand the bleak landscape of South Africa in the 1960s and early 1970s. This day pays tribute to the brave young people who, on June 16, 1976, rose in protest against the apartheid regime's imposition of Afrikaans as a medium of instruction in black schools. Armed with nothing but courage and stones, they confronted the brutal machinery of the apartheid state. Many were killed, arrested, and injured, but their resistance ignited a wave of defiance that accelerated the struggle for liberation. According to Statistics South Africa's Quarterly Labour Force Survey (QLFS) for the first quarter of 2025, youth unemployment remains alarmingly high. The total number of unemployed youth rose by 151,000 to 4.8 million. At the same time, the number of employed youth declined by 153,000 to 5.7 million. This pushed the youth unemployment rate from 44.6% in Q4 of 2024 to 46.1% in Q1 of 2025. The union said this year's theme resonates with its 10th Congress theme which emphasise the strengthening of foundational learning and functional skills to advance inclusive and sustainable economic growth. 'For many young South Africans, skills for the changing world are out of reach. Many lack access to quality education and skills development opportunities. Others, despite having qualifications, find that job opportunities are few and shrinking,' the union said. The union said it calls on the private sector to rise to the challenge to:. Invest in quality education and training that responds to the demands of the Fourth Industrial Revolution. Expand access to vocational, artisan, and technical training. Support youth entrepreneurship and innovation. Prioritise youth employment in both public and private programmes. 'As SADTU, rooted in the education sector, we reaffirm our commitment to support initiatives aimed at skilling the youth. But beyond just skills, we advocate for a holistic education system that builds caring, tolerant, patriotic, and socially responsible citizens. To fail our youth today is to betray the sacrifices of the 1976 generation. Let us honour their legacy by empowering today's youth to shape a better tomorrow not from the margins, but from the centre of our society and economy,' the statement concluded.
IOL News
5 days ago
- Business
- IOL News
When South Africa says YES, youth move forward
South Africa is not short of ambition, nor of young people who are willing to work, to learn and to lead. The real shortage is in pathways that convert potential into progress. Image: David Ritchie/African News Agency South Africa's youth unemployment crisis is as structural as it is personal. It cuts across geography, education levels and industry sectors, affecting the country's growth trajectory and the individual dreams of millions of young people. According to the latest Quarterly Labour Force Survey, 46.1 percent of young South Africans between the ages of 15 and 34 are unemployed. That is not just an economic indicator. It reflects lost potential, diminished hope and the urgent need for systemic change. What lies at the heart of this challenge is not a lack of talent. It is a lack of access. Access to networks, to credible experience, and to the kind of opportunities that allow people to demonstrate their value in real-world settings. South Africa is not short of ambition, nor of young people who are willingto work, to learn and to lead. The real shortage is in pathways that convert potential into progress. This is precisely the gap the Youth Employment Service (YES) was created to bridge. Since its launch in 2018, YES has created more than 187,000 full-time, 12-month work experiences for previously unemployed youth across the country. Backed by more than 1,800 corporate partners and entirely funded by the private sector, the programme has injected over R10.84 billion into the economy in the form of salaries. These are not internships or short-term placements. They are structured, quality work experiences designed to build capability, expand opportunity and catalyse long-term inclusion. At Nedbank, our involvement with YES is not limited to financial support or compliance metrics. We have embedded the programme into our broader strategy to attract, grow and retain young talent. Since 2019, we have placed more than 13,500 youth through YES, with a further 3,873 to be onboarded in 2025. These opportunities are offered both within Nedbank and through implementation partners aligned to our purpose-led focus on sustainability, transformation and inclusive growth. What makes the programme effective is not just its scale. It is the intentionality behind it. YES, participants are placed in future-facing sectors such as digital, finance, environmental sustainability and green energy. These are areas where demand is growing and where the right investment in young people today can yield lasting returns for the economy tomorrow. Our joint Youth4Green initiative with YES is a case in point, opening up work experiences in solar energy, environmental management and conservation – areas with critical skills shortages and high development potential. Video Player is loading. Play Video Play Unmute Current Time 0:00 / Duration -:- Loaded : 0% Stream Type LIVE Seek to live, currently behind live LIVE Remaining Time - 0:00 This is a modal window. Beginning of dialog window. Escape will cancel and close the window. Text Color White Black Red Green Blue Yellow Magenta Cyan Transparency Opaque Semi-Transparent Background Color Black White Red Green Blue Yellow Magenta Cyan Transparency Opaque Semi-Transparent Transparent Window Color Black White Red Green Blue Yellow Magenta Cyan Transparency Transparent Semi-Transparent Opaque Font Size 50% 75% 100% 125% 150% 175% 200% 300% 400% Text Edge Style None Raised Depressed Uniform Dropshadow Font Family Proportional Sans-Serif Monospace Sans-Serif Proportional Serif Monospace Serif Casual Script Small Caps Reset restore all settings to the default values Done Close Modal Dialog End of dialog window. Advertisement Next Stay Close ✕ Ad loading The socioeconomic profile of the youth we support reveals just how vital these interventions are. More than 85 percent of Nedbank YES participants come from grant-recipient households, and 86 percent have financial dependents. In many cases, the stipend provided through YES is the only consistent income in the household. But the value of the programme goes beyond the salary. It lies in the transformation that happens when someone enters a workplace for the first time, develops a professional identity, and begins to imagine themselves not only surviving, but that transformation is measurable. Thirty-six percent of Nedbank YES alumni are employed after completing the programme, well above the YES benchmark and another 21 percent have gone on to start their own businesses, signalling that entrepreneurship, too, is a viable pathway when confidence, exposure and support are present. For the private sector, YES offers more than reputational value. It provides a mechanism to earn up to two levels on the B-BBEE scorecard, while also contributing to ESG priorities and sector-building strategies. In other words, it aligns social impact with strategic advantage. This is increasingly important in a business environment that expects organisations to demonstrate real, sustained contributions to transformation and inclusive growth. At the same time, government cannot solve youth unemployment alone. The public sector has neither the absorption capacity nor the agility to respond to the fast-changing needs of the labour market. That is why partnerships matter. YES, works because it is business-led, but nation-minded. It invites the private sector to be not just employers, but active co-creators of the country's future workforce. As we reflect on Youth Month 2025, we are reminded that progress is cumulative. It happens one placement at a time. One conversation at a time. One young person at a time. When someone walks into their first job, it is not just their future that shifts – it is the trajectory of their family, their community, and in time, the economy. Our country is at a critical juncture. We can continue to treat youth unemployment as an intractable crisis, or we can respond to it as a call to innovate, to partner and to invest with purpose. At Nedbank, we choose the latter. Our work with YES reflects that choice, and of our belief that young people deserve more than just a chance. They deserve a system that works for them. Youth employment is not a social obligation. It is a strategic imperative. And when we get it right, everyone benefits. Lerato Mathibela, Head of Group Human Resources Young Talent, Nedbank Group. Lerato Mathibela, Head of Group Human Resources Young Talent, Nedbank Group. Image: Supplied.
IOL News
7 days ago
- Business
- IOL News
Youth unemployment, a crisis in South Africa
Deputy President Paul Mashatile said there were 9.2 million young people in the country who were not in education, employment, or training. Image: Rowan Abrahams As South Africa marks Youth Day, the youth in the country face unemployment, violence, limited access to mental health care and inequality in education. During an address this week at the SA Youth Engagement hosted by the Harambee Youth Employment Accelerator in Johannesburg, deputy president Paul Mashatile said in South Africa, youth unemployment has reached crisis levels. "The latest Quarterly Labour Force Survey data delivered its bleakest message that the expanded youth unemployment among young people aged 18–34 years has, in the first quarter of 2025, reached one of its highest points ever at 56.3%. "This is a continuation of the downward spiral trend that began in 2015 and was only interrupted by an even steeper fall during the COVID-19 pandemic," he said. Deputy President Paul Mashatile delivering the keynote address during the SA Youth Engagement hosted by the Harambee Youth Employment Accelerator. Image: Jairus Mmutle/GCIS Mashatile said there were 9.2 million young people in the country who were not in education, employment, or training. "Even more shockingly, this number is set to increase by approximately 600 000 annually. With the economy projected to grow only at 1.8%, we must accept that the formal economy is not growing at the rate required to absorb the large number of youth entering the labour market annually. "As part of a solution to this challenge, youth who are not in employment, education, or training should consider entrepreneurship as a viable pathway for employment and self-reliance," said Mashatile. He said the government's National Development Plan: Vision 2030, places a strong emphasis on entrepreneurship and small businesses as crucial drivers of economic growth and job creation. "We need to collaborate to change the mentality of young people by bringing to light opportunities that are available for those who choose to pursue entrepreneurship. "Government offers various programmes to support young entrepreneurs, including financial assistance, business development services, and skills training. Key initiatives include the National Youth Development Agency's Grant Programme, and the Youth Challenge Fund," he said. Previn Vedan, a trustee of the Nelson Mandela Community Youth Centre, said today's youth face a convergence of crises, from rising unemployment, violence, limited access to mental healthcare, inequality in education and a digital economy that often leaves the township and rural youth behind. "But they are not without tools. They are connected, expressive, creative and if resourced, they can be unstoppable. "At the Nelson Mandela Chatsworth Youth Centre we have seen firsthand what happens when youth are not just spoken to but invested in. From skills development to sports, counselling to career guidance, the centre stands as a hub of empowerment in one of the most complex urban spaces in KwaZulu-Natal. Our mission is not charity, it is justice. And our work continues to grow because young people continue to show up," he said. Vedan, who became disabled at the age of 29, after surviving a brutal attack, said he has seen how youth with disabilities, foreign nationals, and others who live on the margins of society were often excluded from the mainstream youth agenda. "If we want a just and vibrant youth movement, we must build spaces that affirm every kind of identity and ability - from the ground up. "Government alone will not save our youth. NGOs alone will not save our youth. Even inspiration alone will not save our youth. We need a generation that stops waiting. We need young people who will claim their space, who will start something, even if it is small, who will fail forward and ask for help without shame, who will create opportunities, not just scroll through them," said Vedan.
