Pretoria: Deputy President Paul Mashatile announced that the government will continue to lead efforts in creating a conducive environment for economic growth, education, safety, and opportunity. Addressing the Youth Day commemoration in the North West, Mashatile urged the private sector to invest in youth innovation and create opportunities by hiring and supporting young people.
According to South African Government News Agency, Deputy President Mashatile emphasized the importance of a future where youth skills, creativity, and determination can thrive. He urged young people not to give up in their pursuit of a better future for themselves and the country. He also invited them to participate in the upcoming National Dialogue to help shape the future trajectory of South Africa.
This year’s National Youth Day event took place under the theme: ‘Skills for the Changing World – Empowering Youth for Meaningful Economic Participation.’ This theme calls on government entities and strategic partners to focus on bridging the gap between skills development programs and services available for youth to achieve economic success.
The government offers various programs to support young entrepreneurs, including financial assistance, business development services, and skills training. Deputy President Mashatile encouraged young people to consider entrepreneurship as a key to building a better future, highlighting initiatives like the National Youth Development Agency’s Grant Programme and Youth Challenge Fund, along with a R20 billion annual Transformation Fund.
In promoting youth participation in the digital economy, the government has launched initiatives such as the Digital Economy Masterplan and the National Digital and Future Skills Strategy. These initiatives aim to create employment and entrepreneurship opportunities for young people.
The government acknowledges the need to create an enabling environment for young entrepreneurs, proposing a War Room on Clean Governance to prioritize quick invoice payment cycles and support small businesses. Deputy President Mashatile reflected on the significant victories in youth empowerment since 1994, including improvements in education and the expansion of the National Student Financial Aid Scheme (NSFAS).
The NSFAS has grown significantly, funding over 1.1 million students at universities and TVET colleges today. This expansion has transformed the demographic composition of the higher education system, with Black students now making up 80% of enrollments. The government has also restructured NSFAS to a grant system to prevent higher education from becoming a debt burden for young people.
Efforts continue to address challenges in education, such as accommodation and administration of NSFAS, with the Department of Higher Education and Training working to ensure no deserving student is left behind. Over the past five years, several mass youth employment programs have been implemented to address youth unemployment.
The Presidential Youth Employment Intervention (PYEI), launched in 2020, aims to create sustainable earning opportunities for young people. Recent reports indicate that over 4.7 million young people are registered on the National Pathway Management Network, with more than 1.6 million earning opportunities secured. Additionally, the Social Employment Fund, managed by the Industrial Development Corporation, addresses unemployment and promotes social value with a “whole of society” approach.