Government will expand the Jobs Boost Outcomes Fund from R300 million to R1 billion after a pilot programme exceeded its employment targets and demonstrated that outcomes-based funding can help young people secure and retain jobs.

The announcement was made on Friday during a briefing on the fourth-quarter performance of the Presidential Youth Employment Intervention (PYEI), in which officials outlined progress in tackling youth unemployment during the final quarter of the 2025/26 financial year.

Deputy Minister in the Presidency Nonceba Mhlauli said the Jobs Boost Outcomes Fund pilot, which concluded at the end of March, had become one of the most successful initiatives under the PYEI.

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The fund was launched as a R300 million pay-for-performance programme designed to incentivise organisations to place young people in jobs and ensure they remain employed. Under the model, implementing partners receive only a portion of their funding upfront, with the remaining 80% paid only after employment outcomes are independently verified.

Mhlauli said the programme exceeded expectations across all key indicators.

“As of 30 March 2026, the pilot achieved extraordinary success,” she said.

According to the results, 9,174 young people were enrolled in the programme, reaching 110% of the enrolment target. A total of 7,044 job placements were secured, exceeding the original target by 54%.

The programme also recorded strong retention rates. Government has already verified that 5,211 participants remained employed for at least three months, while 3,795 sustained employment for six months. Final verification processes are still underway.

Mhlauli said one of the most significant findings was that the programme succeeded in reaching young people who are often excluded from economic opportunities.

“Most importantly, it proved that outcomes-based financing successfully supports the most disadvantaged, with youth from Quintile 1 schools achieving higher retention rates,” she said.

PYEI official Thulebona Mhlanga said the pilot had demonstrated that public funds could be linked directly to measurable employment outcomes rather than programme activities.

“The programme demonstrated the value of outcomes-based financing,” Mhlanga said.

She added that the initiative had also shown how partnerships between government, business and civil society could be used to create sustainable employment opportunities for young people.

The success of the pilot has prompted government to prepare a major expansion of the fund. Mhlauli said the new R1 billion programme is expected to deliver 20,000 quality job placements through a public-private partnership model.

Mhlanga said lessons learned during the pilot phase would be used to strengthen the expanded programme and improve its ability to connect young people to quality and sustainable employment opportunities.

The Jobs Boost Outcomes Fund forms part of the broader Presidential Youth Employment Intervention, launched by President Cyril Ramaphosa in 2020 to address South Africa’s youth unemployment crisis.

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The intervention coordinates programmes across government, the private sector and civil society to help young people move from education and training into employment, entrepreneurship and other income-generating opportunities.

According to the latest quarterly report, more than 5.9 million young people have registered on the SA Youth platform, while over 5.36 million are registered on the Employment Services of South Africa (ESSA) database.

Since the launch of the PYEI, more than 2.5 million earning opportunities have been accessed through SA Youth and a further 422,667 opportunities through ESSA.

During the January to March 2026 quarter alone, 155,161 earning opportunities were secured by young people through the intervention’s network. Of these, more than 135,000 were accessed through SA Youth, while over 20,000 were secured through ESSA.

The Youth Employment Service (YES), a private sector-led programme, placed 18,310 young people in workplace experience opportunities during the quarter. 

The Department of Higher Education and Training also facilitated 5,005 work-integrated learning placements for TVET college students and graduates, more than doubling the number achieved in the previous quarter.

Mhlauli said Phase 4 of the Revitalised National Youth Service recruited an additional 5,272 young people during the quarter, bringing the total number of paid community service opportunities created since the programme’s inception to 138,056.

Mhlauli said Phase 5 of the National Youth Service is set to recruit a further 100,000 young people across South Africa, providing them with paid community service opportunities and work experience.

Mhlauli said government’s focus in the 2026/27 financial year would be on scaling successful programmes, increasing quality work placements and expanding innovative approaches that connect young people to sustainable livelihoods.

“The success of this entire ecosystem relies heavily on coordinated, demand-led action driven by the Presidency’s Project Management Office, our national departments and our diverse implementation partners,” she said.

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A new partnership between the China-South Africa Youth Federation (CSAYF) and the Nanjing Research Institute of Hydrology and Water Conservation Automation (NIHWA) is expected to create 1,500 work opportunities for young South Africans in the water sector, according to the federation.

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KwaZulu-Natal’s departments of education and health face deductions from future budget allocations after the provincial Treasury tabled a bill to recover more than R1 billion in historic unauthorised expenditure.

The recovery forms part of the KwaZulu-Natal Second Unauthorised Expenditure Authorisation Bill, 2026, tabled by Finance MEC Francois Rodgers in the provincial legislature on Thursday.

The Department of Education faces the largest repayment, of about R955 million, while the Department of Health, faces a repayment of about R91 million.

The deductions are expected to be made over seven financial years.

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The 4 November local government elections are facing an early test of public confidence, with most unregistered young voters showing little intention of joining the voters’ roll ahead of the first national registration weekend later this month.

The South African Local Government Association (SALGA), through its Youth Commission, said it was mobilising young people to participate in the local elections amid growing concern over a widening voter participation gap and a trust deficit that has seen fewer people going to the polls in successive elections.

SALGA has encouraged young South Africans to use Youth Month as an opportunity to take action by registering to vote and preparing to shape the future of their municipalities.

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The national voter registration weekend will take place on 20 and 21 June 2026.

 “According to recent Public Opinion Research by the GCIS (government communications), South Africa approaches the 2026 local government elections amid ‘entrenched public pessimism and active democratic disengagement,’ as the public lose motivation for participating in voting,” SALGA said.

It said the study found that 62% of unregistered voters had no intention of registering, while only 38% of unregistered respondents said they were open to registration.

SALGA Youth Commission chairperson Lucky Sele said it was troubling that more than 60% of non-registered youth aged 18-34 did not plan to register, describing them as “millions of potential first-time or second-time voters absent from the rolls”.

The Electoral Commission of South Africa (IEC) has identified young people as a key audience in efforts to strengthen democratic participation.

It has said that more than 70% of young South Africans have not registered to vote, the result of growing distrust in democratic institutions and elections.

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However, the commission has said it aims to combat increasing political disengagement among young voters by integrating democratic education into the digital and cultural spaces in which they engage.

“The SALGA believes that local democracy will only be strengthened when young people choose to participate actively in shaping the councils, priorities, and decisions that affect their daily lives,” the association said.

Sele said that “young people cannot afford to be absent from decisions that affect jobs, service delivery, accountability, and the future of their communities”.

The SALGA Youth Commission said it would use June 2026 to launch a targeted youth mobilisation programme that includes public messaging, media engagement and youth dialogues on the role of young people in strengthening local democracy.

“Young people are urged to take advantage of the voter registration weekend on 20-21 June 2026, register where they live, verify their details, and prepare to use their democratic voice responsibly on 4 November 2026,” it said.

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The National Student Financial Aid Scheme administrator, Professor Hlengani Mathebula, has welcomed the Labour Court ruling to reinstate Facilities Manager Alfred Abrahams, saying the agency will abide by the decision.

The administrator said in a statement released on Saturday that the ruling to reinstate Abrahams was critical and affirmed the role of whistleblowers in the fight against corruption.   

Abrahams was dismissed in May 2023 after he made protected disclosures related to a lease of a building in Cape Town that cost NSFAS R 2 million per month while the building stood empty or was too big for NSFAS requirements. 

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In his ruling, Judge R Lagrange found that “All the evidence points to the overwhelming cause of his dismissal being his disclosure of the information of various acts of wrongdoing on the part of NSFAS Management.” 

The administrator said this was progress in making protected disclosures regarding procurement irregularities, acted in the public interest, and in accordance with the principles of good governance. 

“This judgment is an important affirmation of the rights of whistleblowers and the critical role they play in upholding integrity and accountability within public institutions.As Administrator, I wish to state unequivocally that NSFAS fully supports whistleblowers and is committed to creating a safe environment where employees are empowered to raise legitimate concerns without fear of victimisation or retaliation,” the administrator said.  

Mathebula said the courage demonstrated by individuals who came forward to report wrongdoing was essential to fostering a culture of transparency, ethical conduct, and continuous improvement.

“Let me be clear: under my stewardship, NSFAS will be managed in strict adherence to the highest standards of corporate governance, with a firm commitment to collective accountability,” he said, before adding, “This means that every member of staff, regardless of rank, is expected to act in good faith and in the best interests of the organisation and the students we serve. We will continue to strengthen our policies and practices to  ensure that all procurement and other critical processes are conducted with fairness, transparency, and due diligence.”

Mathebula said the good corporate governance was not merely a compliance exercise but the foundation upon which public trust should be built.

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He said it requires rigorous internal controls, open channels for reporting concerns, and a clear, unwavering commitment to ethical behaviour at every level of the organisation. 

The administrator promised to intensify regular training on corporate governance, review and enhance NSFAS whistleblower protection mechanisms, and hold all employees accountable for upholding these standards.

“We recognise that employee accountability goes hand in hand with support and protection for those who act to safeguard the integrity of the organisation. Our approach will be holistic: we will not tolerate any  form of misconduct or procedural irregularity, nor will we allow whistleblowers to be silenced or  marginalised,” Mathebula said

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Employers across Africa are being urged to apply for the third intake of the Global Goals 2030: Africa Scholarship before applications close on 30 June 2026.

Championed by the Graduate Institute of Financial Sciences (GIFS) and Dr Phumzile Mlambo-Ngcuka’s Umlambo Foundation, the scholarship aims to expand access to quality education and skills development while helping employers prepare their workforce for jobs of the future.

The third application intake opened on 15 May 2026 and offers employers access to a wide range of qualifications, from higher certificates and diplomas to bachelor’s degrees, master’s programmes, MBAs and doctoral studies.

GIFS Chief Executive Officer Dr Kershen Pillay told Inside Education the scholarship is aligned with the United Nations Sustainable Development Goal 4, which promotes inclusive and equitable quality education for all.

“The Global Goals 2030 Africa Scholarship is a call to quality education and equal access to quality education,” Pillay said.

He said Africa’s rapidly growing youth population means the continent must invest now in developing future-ready skills.

“By 2050, Africa will have the youngest youth population in the world. The global workforce will increasingly look to Africa for talent, but we need to be ready. The question is how we upskill and create catalytic opportunities for young people and workers today,” he said.

The scholarship focuses not only on current labour market needs but also on emerging industries and future occupations.

“We looked at what the jobs of tomorrow will be and how we can create a pipeline of talent for those opportunities. We don’t want to educate for education’s sake. We want learning to be linked to real-world experience and employment opportunities,” he said.

To achieve this, GIFS has partnered with employers across the continent to help shape training programmes and provide practical workplace experience for scholarship recipients.

The initiative is open to employers of all sizes and across all sectors, including mining, technology, engineering, manufacturing, retail, healthcare and financial services.

Pillay said participating employers can use the scholarship to upskill existing staff or develop new talent through internationally recognised qualifications.

“What we are doing is democratising education. Whether you are a large employer or a small employer, the opportunity is available on a first-come, first-served basis,” he said.

The scholarship includes more than 16 bachelor’s programmes, over 55 master’s programmes, and more than 37 doctoral programmes.

In addition to employees, employers may also nominate their children’s dependents for selected undergraduate and postgraduate programmes.

Pillay said the initiative was developed following consultations involving GIFS, the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP), the African Union Development Agency-NEPAD and the Umlambo Foundation, which identified a shortage of tertiary education opportunities across the continent.

“There are not enough tertiary institutions and opportunities to meet the demand of our youth. If we do not provide opportunities, we are limiting their futures. This scholarship is a lifeline and a source of hope for young Africans and for employers concerned about developing future talent,” he said.

The programme offers fee reductions of up to 70% and flexible online learning options designed to make higher education more accessible to working professionals and students across Africa.

Employers interested in applying can visit the Global Goals 2030 Africa Scholarship website or email info@gifs.africa or they can log on to global goals website which is globalgoals-2030.com for further information 

Successful applicants can expect to receive feedback from the adjudication committee within seven days after the funding window closes.

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The High Court in Pretoria has rejected a bid by the Information Regulator to appeal a ruling that allows matric results to be published in newspapers and online using exam numbers.

The ruling keeps in place the court’s earlier decision setting aside the regulator’s enforcement action against the Department of Basic Education (DBE) over the publication of National Senior Certificate results.

The dispute centred on whether publishing results without learners’ names, but with examination numbers, amounted to the unlawful processing of personal information under the Protection of Personal Information Act (POPIA).

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Safe early childhood development centres (ECD) can help protect vulnerable children, build confidence and reduce long-term cycles of trauma in under-resourced communities, the Santa Shoebox Project said as South Africa marked Child Protection Week.

The organisation said adequately equipped ECD spaces with trained teachers did more than provide a foundation for learning. They also helped small children develop the confidence to say “NO, stop, that’s wrong!”.

The statement was issued as the world marked International Children’s Day on June 1 and South Africa observed Child Protection Week.

The Santa Shoebox Project said quality ECD centres created safe environments where children could develop critical life skills, early literacy and numeracy, and hygiene awareness.

It said research suggested that children educated in supportive environments were significantly less likely to grow up being violent, helping to break cycles of trauma in under-resourced communities.

“Our work at the Santa Shoebox Project has always been rooted in the belief that every child deserves to feel safe, valued, and empowered,” said CEO Deb Zelezniak.

“Through our SSP Legacy arm, we have reached over 180 000 children by establishing and upgrading ECD centres across South Africa. An essential part of this work is investing in teacher training and early literacy initiatives, including the installation of reading corners to improve cognitive, language, and social-emotional development.

“Ultimately, it’s not just about teaching children to read and count – it’s about shaping the children’s internal world, their sense of confidence, their agency, their grasp of right and wrong, and ultimately their dignity.”

The project said its traditional and virtual Santa Shoeboxes are continuing to provide essentials to children in need.

Each box contains eight specified items, including hygiene products such as a bar of soap, a washcloth, a toothbrush and toothpaste, as well as educational supplies.

“The hygiene and education essentials we distribute via the Santa Shoeboxes are about more than just health; they provide the dignity of self-care,” Zelezniak said.

“When a child is equipped with these tools and supported by trained teachers in a secure facility, they are better prepared to navigate the world with resilience.”

The Santa Shoebox Project, which celebrates its 20th anniversary in 2026, called on South Africans to support its work.

The organisation said donors could begin preparing their boxes now to spread the cost, with corporate pledges opening on August 1 and individual pledges on September 1.

Volunteers, donors and potential brand partners can visit santashoebox.org.za for more information.

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“This was not a political brawl; it was a legal, governance and student-protection response,” Higher Education Minister Buti Manamela told Parliament on Friday as he defended his decision to place the National Student Financial Aid Scheme (NSFAS) under administration.

The Portfolio Committee on Higher Education and Training held a full-day meeting with Manamela about how he reached the decision to appoint an administrator — Professor Hlengani Mathebula — and dissolve the NSFAS board.

Manamela placed NSFAS under administration on 4 May. In his presentation flighted at the meeting, he gave the reasons for the administration — the third in the last five years — as operational failures, an Auditor-General disclaimer challenged data analytics, payments to 822 deceased students, funding for students whose family income was above the qualifying threshold, unresolved appeals, and numerous board resignations, including those of the chairperson and deputy chairperson.

The presentation said NSFAS had recorded nine material irregularities, including four newly notified irregularities, and had a closing balance of R85.356 billion in irregular and fruitless expenditure.

It also said Auditor-General data analytics had identified 14,169 students above the income threshold, 35,192 students funded despite rule failures, and 7,805 unresolved appeals.

Manamela said that no instruction had been given to the board regarding the appointment of a chief executive officer.

He said that while the former Board argued that the entity’s disclaimer audit related to a period before it fully took office, this did not absolve it of responsibility to act.

“The former NSFAS board had indicated to me that this didn’t happen in their period in a period wherein they served….but they also had a responsibility to act on those material irregularities,” he told the committee.

“This was not a political fight with the Board, but it was a legal governance intervention which was intended to protect the NSFAS and students,” he said.

He said an Auditor‑General report identifying material irregularities, coupled with governance instability and resignations, showed the board had not done enough by March 2026.

“[T]here’s an AGS report… with materiality, and which the board had the responsibility to act on… which they haven’t by March this year, 2026,”

“Even if I considered that report, which they gave me on the 30th of April, together with their quarterly report and their business plan as a board, you know, I do not think that it [was] satisfactory enough in order not to proceed with administration.”

“The very same report had indicated, for instance, that supply chain management had not been working… that Xcode had not been functional, that financial committees had not been functional,” he said, adding that by the time he acted, “the expertise that the board itself required had already been depleted”.

Pressed about why another administrator would stabilise NSFAS, he said administration remains a statutory mechanism any time a board cannot ensure stability.

“Administration comes in when whoever is the executive authority believes that there is a need for such an intervention, meaning that the board that exists at the time…is unable to oversee a stabilised institution.”

Manamela said that NSFAS was institutionally fragile. He said there were fragmented manual processes, high vacancy rates, poor systems integration, and the decommissioning of the Phoenix system. There were also problems with the Orion system and a R46 billion historical loan book that was 98% impaired.

The minister said administration was necessary to protect more than 800,000 students who depend on NSFAS for tuition, accommodation, food, books and other study-related costs.

The presentation said disbursements would continue, NSFAS staff would remain in place, accommodation measures would be protected and the administration would be temporary.

The minister also said that the dissolution of the Board was not a separate discretionary decision, but followed automatically from the appointment of the administrator under section 17D of the NSFAS Act.

He said the legality of the Board’s appointment was already the subject of a self-review application before the Pretoria High Court.

Committee chairperson Tebogo Letsie said in a statement following Manamela’s briefing: “Our interest is a stable NSFAS that works to benefit poor South African students who, without NSFAS support, will not come close to accessing post-school education opportunities. NSFAS must work for South Africans, and this committee will ensure that commitment becomes our reality.”

Letsie said the committee noted Manamela’s explanation that an informal meeting he had with the board was an information session on continuing work, but that the formalities of board meetings had not been complied with.

“Minister Manamela acknowledged and apologised for the error where one board member did not receive an invitation to the meeting. The committee notes his explanation that this was not a deliberate action on the Minister’s part and that no malice was intended,” Letsie said.

The committee said it would be patient with matters pending before the courts, including disputes arising from the decision.

“The committee notes the decision and the consequent challenges, and it trusts that the courts will resolve the matters under dispute. The reasons advanced appear genuine, and former board members have also raised concerns. It is expected that they would be dissatisfied, and the committee believes all issues will be adjudicated,” Letsie said.

The stabilisation plan outlined by Manamela includes maintaining operational continuity, fixing audit findings, strengthening consequence management, resolving data irregularities, clearing the appeals backlog, accelerating ICT digitalisation and completing a TVET college close-out project.

The administrator is expected to submit an initial stabilisation plan within three months and report quarterly to the minister.

Letsie called on Manamela to convene meetings more effectively in future to avoid procedural uncertainty and “grey areas in the work of government”, and not to act in a way that creates room for speculation.

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The University of Cape Town (UCT) has been placed on the global scientific stage after Professor Liesl Zühlke was named the 2026 laureate for Africa and the Arab States in the prestigious UNESCO-Foundation L’Oréal For Women in Science International Awards.

Zühlke was recognised for her ground-breaking research aimed at improving care for children living with cardiovascular disease, particularly rheumatic heart disease (RHD), a preventable illness that continues to disproportionately affect poor and vulnerable communities.

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