Democracy must deliver jobs and opportunities for SA youth – Ramaphosa

Ramaphosa

Cape Town – President Cyril Ramaphosa has acknowledged the challenges facing South Africa’s youth, saying unemployment and limited opportunities continue to prevent many young people from fully benefiting from democracy, while outlining government programmes aimed at improving access to jobs, skills and training.

In his weekly newsletter ahead of Youth Day, Ramaphosa paid tribute to the generation of 1976, saying their struggle against apartheid-era education helped secure freedom for future generations.

“Fifty years ago, the youth of 1976 stood up against injustice and demanded the right to learn, to dream and to determine their own future. Their courage helped open the doors of freedom. The responsibility of our generation is to ensure that those doors lead to opportunity,” he said.

The president said today’s youth face a different challenge: gaining access to an economy that has not created enough opportunities for young people.

“We know that for many young South Africans, the promise of democracy can feel distant when jobs are scarce, when opportunities seem out of reach and when qualifications do not always lead to employment,” he said.

Ramaphosa said government was pursuing inclusive economic growth through infrastructure investment, economic reforms and a renewed investment drive that secured R890 billion in investment pledges over the past year.

He noted, however, that economic growth alone would not immediately solve youth unemployment, prompting government to expand employment and skills development programmes.

According to the president, the Presidential Employment Stimulus has created more than 2.5 million work and livelihood opportunities since its launch during the Covid-19 pandemic, with more than 80% of beneficiaries being young people.

He said 200,000 unemployed young people were placed in nearly 22,000 schools through the Basic Education Employment Initiative last year, while the Social Employment Fund and National Youth Service have also provided work opportunities and income support.

Ramaphosa highlighted the impact of the Presidential Youth Employment Intervention, saying the SA Youth platform has registered more than 5.7 million young people and facilitated access to over 2.3 million earning opportunities.

“The value of these opportunities can be measured not merely by what young people earn while they’re in the programme, but by what they leave with: skills, experience, self-esteem and a sense of purpose,” he said.

Despite the progress, Ramaphosa acknowledged that more work remains to tackle youth unemployment and called on all sectors of society to support young people.

“Every company, every department, every organisation and every South African who is able to open a door for a young person must do so,” he said.

He concluded by assuring young South Africans that government remains committed to helping them realise their potential.

“Your country sees your potential and will work with you to ensure that you realise it,” Ramaphosa said.

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