Unemployment is a major issue in South Africa, especially for young people aged 18 to 35. Many young individuals have given up on sending out CVs, convinced that no one will employ them. If you think the youth are jobless due to a lack of skills, think again. According to Stats South Africa, the unemployment rate for university graduates is an astounding 33.6%. The problem isn’t a shortage of skills. In fact, many US-based companies are recruiting South Africans. Flowz, a recruiting company for US-based clients, has even opened an office in Pietermaritzburg to tap into our talent pool.
The government is also stepping up with initiatives like the Youth Employment Service (YES), which encourages companies to create jobs for young people. Recently, Minister in the Presidency Responsible for Women, Youth, and Persons with Disabilities, Dr. Nkosazana Dlamini Zuma, celebrated the launch of the South African National Service Initiative (SANSI).
SANSI is set to be a game-changer, aiming to develop, capacitate, and empower South Africa’s youth into purposeful, sustainable employment. “Like the rest of the world, South Africa faces multidimensional challenges that require a nationally coordinated response, spanning all of government and society,” said Minister Dlamini Zuma. The urgency to address this socio-economic imbalance, which disproportionately affects young men and women eager to contribute to society’s growth, has never been greater.
According to the latest Quarterly Labour Force Survey, the unemployment rate is 32.9%, with youth aged 15–24 and 25–34 facing the highest rates at 40.7% and 59.7%, respectively. Approximately 3.6 million (35.5%) out of 10.3 million young people aged 15–24 are not employed, educated, or trained.
SANSI aims to implement key interventions to tackle youth unemployment. The South African National Defence Force (SANDF)-led National Youth Service (NYS) will serve as a foundation for unity and sustainable development. The Department of Women, Youth, and Persons with Disabilities, in collaboration with the Department of Defence, will adopt a whole-of-government and whole-of-society approach to revolutionize skills for the unskilled, targeting 100,000 young people over the upcoming 7th Administration.
The government is committed to fully funding the South African National Service Initiative. Deputy President Paul Mashatile, in his keynote address at the SANSI launch, said, “We aim to ensure that young individuals are equipped with the necessary skills and qualifications to secure employment upon completing their education. Additionally, we want to foster an entrepreneurial mindset among young people, enabling them to contribute to reducing unemployment in our nation.”
SANSI will focus on key strategic work streams: Food and Agricultural Value Chain Commercialisation, Maritime and Oceans Economy, Engineering and Construction, Manufacturing and Infrastructure Rollout, and future skills, including digital technologies and electronics.
I believe in the power of these initiatives to transform young people into courageous agents of change, tackling our country’s most pressing issues. Together, we can create a brighter future for our youth and, ultimately, for all of South Africa.