By Charmaine Ndlela
Social Development Minister Dina Pule on Wednesday called for stronger partnerships between government and the private sector to tackle South Africa’s youth unemployment crisis, urging stakeholders to deliver practical solutions that create jobs, expand skills development and improve opportunities for young people.
Speaking at the opening of the Department of Social Development’s three-day National Youth Summit at Orion Safari Lodge in Rustenburg, North West, Pule said collaboration was essential to address persistently high youth unemployment and economic exclusion.
Held under the theme, Economic Uprising for the Next 50 Years: Partnerships for Skills, Jobs and Youth Development, the summit forms part of South Africa’s commemoration of the 50th anniversary of the 1976 Youth Uprising.
It brought together young people, government, development partners and the private sector to discuss youth empowerment, entrepreneurship, skills development and employment.
“This is a noble platform to empower the youth of our country. However, we need to strengthen partnerships between government and the private sector in order to deliver real empowerment for young people,” Pule said.
She said the gathering should not become “a talk shop” but should produce practical and measurable outcomes.
“In our decisive efforts to empower our youth, the task lies in the need for all stakeholders in youth development to come together in order to support, empower and enable the youth through relevant interventions, including knowledge and skills transfer,” she said.
Reflecting on the legacy of the 1976 Youth Uprising, Pule said today’s generation faced different but equally pressing challenges.
“The youth of 1976 fought for freedom of movement, education and identity. The youth of 2026 have a responsibility to fight against gender-based violence, substance abuse and for economic freedom,” she said.
Pule cited Statistics South Africa data showing unemployment among people aged 15 to 24 stood at 59.6%, while 33.5% of people in the same age group were not in employment, education or training (NEET).
“I read these statistics not for the sake of reading them, but to show that government is aware of the challenges you face as young people,” she said.
She said government would continue investing in skills development, entrepreneurship and programmes preparing young people for a changing economy, including opportunities in digital technology and artificial intelligence.
Participants at the summit will attend masterclasses on innovation, digital solutions, artificial intelligence, digital productivity and Africa’s digital economy.
“The desire is to develop young people who do not only wait for opportunities but who create opportunities through innovation,” Pule said.
Pule also acknowledged Germany’s support through the German Development Bank (KfW), saying the partnership had funded the construction of 17 multi-purpose Community Care Centres in Limpopo, KwaZulu-Natal and North West to support children and young people made vulnerable by the HIV/AIDS pandemic.
She said the partnership had also led to the launch of the Iindlela – “Ditsela; Pathways” Orphaned, Vulnerable Children and Youth Skills Development Programme, which equips young people with practical, employable skills.
According to Pule, 6,311 young people have completed social and life skills training through the programme, while 1,014 have received technical training in fields including property maintenance, cellphone repairs, sustainable farming and electrical house wiring.
Eleven career fairs have also been held across the three provinces to connect participants with employers and training opportunities.
Pule said South Africa’s youthful population presented a significant opportunity for economic growth if young people were equipped with the necessary education, skills and employment opportunities.
She also welcomed the release of the United Nations Population Fund’s Demographic Futures Survey, which examines the aspirations and challenges facing young adults in 73 countries. The findings will be discussed during the summit ahead of World Population Day on July 11.
Pule urged young people to make use of government support programmes, continue investing in their education and register to vote in the upcoming local government elections.
“We urge you, our young people, to take these opportunities seriously and transform your lives. Never grow weary and continue to work smart and hard in grabbing opportunities that government and the sectors have devised to support them,” she said.
The Department of Social Development said its youth empowerment initiatives are guided by the National Youth Policy 2030 and the department’s Youth Policy, which sets six priority areas to improve young people’s quality of life.
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