By Johnathan Paoli
Deputy President Paul Mashatile has called for national unity to address what he terms a “moral emergency” facing South Africa’s youth – the crisis of unemployment, economic exclusion and diminishing hope.
He told a Youth Day commemoration at the North-West University Rag Farm Stadium in Potchefstroom that while the 1976 Soweto uprising helped lay the foundation for the freedoms enjoyed today, the struggle for socio-economic justice was far from over.
“The reality is that many young people in South Africa are not living the future they hoped for. They are confronted by high levels of unemployment, inequality and a lack of access to opportunities, especially in the digital world,” he said.
Citing recent data from Statistics South Africa, the deputy president painted a stark picture.
Youth aged 15–34 make up more than half of South Africa’s working-age population, approximately 20.9 million, yet the majority remain unemployed.
Unemployment among 18 to 34-year-olds has now surpassed 50%, with nearly 4 million youth not in education, employment, or training.
Of additional concern is the finding that nearly one in four graduates cannot find a job.
“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 including the government, business and communities at large,” he declared.
Mashatile used the platform to highlight a raft of initiatives that the government has launched to turn the tide.
One such initiative is the Presidential Youth Employment Intervention, which has registered over 4.7 million young people and facilitated more than 1.6 million earning opportunities.
He also cited the Social Employment Fund, which has created and retained 140,000 jobs since 2021.
The deputy president said the government has implemented these initiatives to promote social value through “whole of society” approaches, emphasising partnerships with civil society in addressing unemployment.
Mashatile pointed to entrepreneurship as a key solution to youth joblessness.
“We need to encourage young people to look into starting their own businesses instead of waiting for employment. Entrepreneurship is one of the keys to building a better future,” he urged.
The National Youth Development Agency (NYDA) plays a pivotal role in this effort through its Grant Programme, the Youth Challenge Fund and the recently announced R20 billion Transformation Fund, which will be rolled out over five years to support black-owned and youth-led businesses.
The Small Enterprise Finance Agency has also been instrumental, offering funding, loans and business support services to youth-owned enterprises since 2012.
A central theme of the address was preparing youth for the demands of the digital economy.
Mashatile praised government efforts like the Digital Economy Masterplan and the National Digital and Future Skills Strategy, which were focused on equipping youth with the technological skills needed to thrive in the Fourth Industrial Revolution.
The deputy president also unveiled the South African National Service Institute (SANSI), launched in May last year.
This initiative will drive skills development and job creation in sectors like agriculture, artificial intelligence, robotics, energy and digital services.
“SANSI is about providing young people with clearly defined, sustainable opportunities. We want them to be future proofed for the rapidly evolving world of work,” Mashatile said.
To improve conditions for youth entrepreneurs, Mashatile announced the formation of a War Room on Clean Governance, which would prioritise the enforcement of 10–15 day payment cycles and transformative procurement for small businesses.
The deputy president urged youth to participate actively in building better communities and commended the local youth of Potchefstroom for launching a community clean-up campaign in line with the national Clean Cities and Towns Campaign.
He closed his address with a call to unity and action, inviting the youth to be part of the upcoming National Dialogue to shape the future trajectory of the country.
The African National Congress called upon the ANC Youth League to mobilise and develop new leaders to continue shaping a just, inclusive and transformed country.
“Let us honour the legacy of the 1976 youth not only in word, but through decisive and sustained action,” spokesperson Mahlengi Bhengu said.
Meanwhile, the SA Federation of Trade Unions honoured the 1976 uprising, calling for sustained resistance against outsourcing policies and improving opportunities for the youth.
Despite acknowledging the post-apartheid gains, Saftu general secretary Zwelinzima Vavi stressed the persisting challenges of poor performance in global rankings and austerity-driven budget cuts.
“The spirit of 1976 lives in today’s fights for free education, insourcing and decolonisation. As we honour the fallen, we recommit to their vision: an education system that liberates, not enslaves,” Vavi said.
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