Exactly 49 years ago, Soweto came to a standstill when the students of 1976 took to the streets to oppose the apartheid regime’s plan to introduce Afrikaans as the medium of instruction for mathematics and science.
The youth of 2025 may have starkly different struggles from the young people who shut down townships and laid down their lives in 1976, but they are dealing with their own crisis that has seen many take to the streets in protest – youth unemployment.
In his keynote address at the Youth Day Commemoration in Potchefstroom on Monday, Deputy President Paul Mashatile labelled South Africa’s crippling youth unemployment a moral emergency.
The latest employment figures released by Statistics SA paint a dire picture of the country’s labour market. The economy shed 300,000 jobs and youth unemployment soared to 46.1%, meaning almost half of the young population (15 to 35) are locked out of the economy.
“This is more than just an economic issue. It is a moral emergency. It affects our whole society and demands urgent action from all sectors – government, business and communities at large. We must fix the structural challenges in our economy to address inequality and skills mismatch between education and what the job market needs,” Mashatile said.
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Taking to the stage at the North West University’s Rag Farm Stadium in President Cyril Ramaphosa’s stead, the deputy president equated the young people’s fight in 1976 for quality education to the ongoing efforts to empower today’s youth with skills for a changing world.
Government’s response
Mashatile detailed the government’s multipronged strategy to combat youth unemployment and promote economic participation. It involves aligning skills development with labour market demands, promoting youth entrepreneurship and unlocking financial support and funding for young business owners.
On the skills development front, Mashatile said the government was collaborating with organisations like the Harambee Youth Employment Accelerator to address the mismatch between skills and labour market demands. Additionally, the Human Resource Development Council is working to strengthen partnerships between Technical and Vocational Education and Training (TVET) colleges and employers.
The deputy president also listed the government’s wins so far. Key among them was the Presidential Youth Employment Intervention, which has registered more than 4.7 million young people on its national network and secured more than 1.6 million earning opportunities. He also cited the success of the Social Employment Fund, which has created 140,000 jobs by supporting civil society organisations in initiatives related to health, education and food security.
Looking to the future, Mashatile highlighted new initiatives designed to equip young South Africans with modern skills. He announced the recent launch of the South African National Service Institute in May 2024, which offers nationwide programmes in critical sectors such as artificial intelligence, coding, robotics and energy. This will be complemented by the Digital Economic Masterplan and the National Digital and Future Skills Strategy, which aim to promote youth participation in the digital economy.
Closing his address, the Deputy President issued a call to action to all sectors of society. He urged the private sector to “create opportunities by investing, hiring and supporting youth innovation”.
In a direct message to the nation’s youth, he urged them not to give up hope: “Your voice, your ideas and your energy are the fuel that can rebuild this country.” DM