By: Xolani Khumalo
Deputy Minister in the Presidency, Nonceba Mhlauli, says government’s youth employment initiative continues to make significant strides in addressing unemployment among young South Africans.
Speaking during a media briefing, Mhlauli announced that over 76,000 earning opportunities were created between January and March 2025. This brings the total number of work opportunities facilitated through the programme to more than 1.67 million since its inception.
“The Presidential Youth Employment Intervention is yielding results. Our youth are beginning to see real benefits, and we are committed to ensuring its continued success,” she said.
According to the Deputy Minister, more than 4.7 million young people are now registered on the SA Youth platform, a zero-rated online network that connects unemployed youth with opportunities in the public and private sectors.
The SA Youth initiative forms part of the broader Presidential Employment Stimulus, launched in 2020 in response to the economic challenges worsened by the COVID-19 pandemic. It includes various components such as school assistant placements, youth service programmes, and support for youth-owned enterprises.
Youth unemployment in South Africa remains a critical issue, with the latest data from Statistics South Africa indicating that nearly 45% of people aged 15–34 are not in employment, education, or training (NEET). Mhlauli noted that while the challenge is immense, the growing uptake of the programme is a step in the right direction.
“The demand for opportunities is massive, and while we may not meet every need immediately, we are building a stronger, more responsive support system for our youth,” she added.
Young people can join the SA Youth network by visiting https://sayouth.mobi, which is free to use and accessible without data on major mobile networks.
