Tackling Youth Unemployment in South Africa: President Cyril Ramaphosa’s Comprehensive Strategy

South Africa’s youth unemployment crisis has prompted President Cyril Ramaphosa’s government to launch a comprehensive strategy to tackle the issue. This includes the Presidential Youth Employment Intervention, the Presidential Employment Stimulus, and collaborations with the private sector. These initiatives provide young people with temporary earning opportunities, promote self-employment and informal micro-enterprises, and have generated over 1.4 million jobs and livelihood opportunities, with more than 80% going to young people. Despite progress, there is still much work to be done to ensure all young South Africans have access to job opportunities.

What is President Cyril Ramaphosa’s strategy to tackle youth unemployment in South Africa?

President Cyril Ramaphosa’s government has launched a robust strategy, including the Presidential Youth Employment Intervention, the Presidential Employment Stimulus, and collaborations with the private sector. These initiatives create pathways from learning to earning for young people, provide temporary earning opportunities, and promote self-employment and informal micro-enterprises. Over 1.4 million jobs and livelihood opportunities have been generated, with more than 80% of these opportunities going to young people. While progress has been achieved, much work remains to ensure that all young South Africans have the opportunity to thrive in the job market.

South Africa’s Youth Unemployment Crisis

South Africa faces an escalating youth unemployment crisis, which has led President Cyril Ramaphosa’s government to launch a robust strategy to confront the issue. This article examines the various plans, initiatives, and collaborations between the public and private sectors aimed at empowering young South Africans economically and increasing job opportunities.

Presidential Youth Employment Intervention

Launched in 2020, the Presidential Youth Employment Intervention represents a significant government effort to address youth unemployment in South Africa. Spearheaded by the Presidency and involving over 50 partners, this initiative seeks to create pathways from learning to earning for young people. Key government departments, the Harambee Youth Employment Accelerator, the Youth Employment Service (YES), and the National Business Initiative are among the program’s participating partners.

The intervention features a pay-for-performance mechanism that assists local economies in helping young people succeed in businesses and self-employment. This initiative offers paid community service and other temporary earning opportunities for young individuals, allowing them to gain experience and contribute to their communities.

The South Africa Youth platform, an online network providing employment and skill development opportunities, has registered over 4.1 million young people. Many registered users are young African women and others who face labor market exclusion. From April 2020 to June 2021, more than one million young people secured earning opportunities through the SA Youth network, with over 1,700 private sector companies registered on the platform.

Additional Government Programs and Collaborations with the Private Sector

Alongside the Presidential Youth Employment Intervention, the South African Government has introduced the Presidential Employment Stimulus. By August 2023, this program had generated over 1.4 million jobs and livelihood opportunities, with more than 80% of these opportunities going to young people.

The Department of Basic Education’s Basic Education Employment Initiative has placed over 850,000 young people as teaching and general assistants in more than 23,000 schools across the country since October 2020. Since 2011, the National Rural Youth Service Corps has trained nearly 18,000 young people in fields such as agriculture, forestry, fisheries, construction, engineering, energy, health, safety, security, IT, and transport and road management.

Efforts have also been made to partner with the private sector in reducing graduate unemployment and creating job opportunities for disadvantaged youth. The YES program has placed over 119,000 young graduates in workplace experience opportunities, enhancing their prospects of securing permanent employment. Almost a third of YES alumni have secured permanent employment at their placement locations, with over 1,400 businesses participating in the program.

Supporting Self-Employment and Expanding Opportunities

To promote self-employment and engage young people in informal micro-enterprises and semi-formal work, initiatives such as the SME Fund have been implemented. The government is also working to expand the Youth Employment Service, place Technical and Vocational Education and Training (TVET) learners and artisans in jobs, and develop more work experience programs.

As South Africa continues to battle youth unemployment, President Cyril Ramaphosa’s administration remains dedicated to addressing this challenge through various interventions and collaborations with the private sector. While progress has been achieved, much work remains to ensure that all young South Africans have the opportunity to thrive in the job market.

What is the scale of South Africa’s youth unemployment crisis?

South Africa is facing an escalating youth unemployment crisis, with estimates suggesting that over 60% of young people are unemployed or not in education or training.

How does the Presidential Youth Employment Intervention aim to address youth unemployment?

The Presidential Youth Employment Intervention is a government-led initiative that creates pathways from learning to earning for young people, provides temporary earning opportunities, and promotes self-employment and informal micro-enterprises. It features a pay-for-performance mechanism that assists local economies in helping young people succeed in businesses and self-employment.

What is the South Africa Youth platform?

The South Africa Youth platform is an online network providing employment and skill development opportunities for young people. It has registered over 4.1 million young people, with over one million securing earning opportunities through the platform from April 2020 to June 2021.

What is the Presidential Employment Stimulus?

The Presidential Employment Stimulus is a government program aimed at generating job opportunities and livelihoods. By August 2023, it had generated over 1.4 million jobs and livelihood opportunities, with more than 80% going to young people.

What is the Department of Basic Education’s Basic Education Employment Initiative?

The Basic Education Employment Initiative is a program that has placed over 850,000 young people as teaching and general assistants in more than 23,000 schools across South Africa since October 2020.

What is the National Rural Youth Service Corps?

The National Rural Youth Service Corps is a program that trains young people in fields such as agriculture, forestry, fisheries, construction, engineering, energy, health, safety, security, IT, and transport and road management. Nearly 18,000 young people have been trained since 2011.

How does the private sector collaborate with the government to address youth unemployment?

The private sector collaborates with the government through initiatives such as the Youth Employment Service, which places young graduates in workplace experience opportunities, and the SME Fund, which promotes self-employment and engages young people in informal micro-enterprises and semi-formal work.

What else is being done to address youth unemployment in South Africa?

Efforts are being made to expand the Youth Employment Service, place Technical and Vocational Education and Training learners and artisans in jobs, and develop more work experience programs. The government remains dedicated to addressing the challenge of youth unemployment in South Africa through various interventions and collaborations with the private sector.