Xolani Khumalo
President Cyril Ramaphosa has called for urgent action to remove barriers contributing to youth unemployment.
He was speaking at a youth employment conference in Sandton, Johannesburg on Thursday morning.
Ramaphosa says many young people remain jobless despite completing their studies and applying for work.
He also highlights challenges facing young entrepreneurs who lack funding and business networks.
Ramaphosa says government and other stakeholders must work together to create employment opportunities for the youth.
“Despite the many efforts that we continue to make, far too many young South Africans remain unemployed.”
“We must be prepared to challenge our established practices to remove the unnecessary barriers and to rethink in more ways than one the ways we prepare young people for the world of work,” said the President.
South Africa’s youth unemployment rate currently sits at a staggering 47%, as reported by Statistics South Africa for the second quarter of 2026 (April–June), released on 11 August 2026.
