Pretoria: In South Africa, Youth Month is celebrated every June following a declaration by the nation’s first democratic President, Tata Nelson Rolihlahla Mandela. It is a time to collectively honour the pivotal role that young people played in the struggle against Apartheid and the historic Soweto Uprising of 1976. Every 16 June, as National Youth Day is marked, the sacrifices and courage of those young people are remembered, and the commitment to equipping today’s youth for a vibrant future is renewed. The theme for 2025 Youth Month, ‘Skills for the changing world – Empowering youth for meaningful economic participation’, calls for building on the proud legacy of Africans and preparing young people for the evolving demands of the global economy.
According to South African Government News Agency, recent data from the Quarterly Labour Force Survey highlights challenges faced by the youth, particularly in accessing the labour market. For the first quarter of 2025, unemployed youth aged 15-34 rose by 151,000 to 4.8 million, while employed youth dropped by 153,000 to 5.7 million, raising the youth unemployment rate from 44.6% in the fourth quarter of 2024 to 46.1% in the first quarter of 2025. These statistics underline the urgency of addressing these challenges, even as hope and determination remain to transform them into opportunities.
Efforts to counter these challenges include initiatives by the National Youth Development Agency (NYDA), which is at the forefront of reducing youth unemployment and enhancing skills attainment through programmes like job preparedness, scholarship provision, and community service. The NYDA’s National Youth Service (NYS) Programme has created over 65,000 community service opportunities.
In May 2024, the South African National Service Institute (SANSI) was launched, a joint initiative by the Department of Women, Youth and Persons with Disabilities and the South African National Defence Force (SANDF), aimed at creating a skills-to-industry pipeline by training young industrialists. Phase 1 aims to enrol at least 100,000 young people, promising sustainable employment and innovative entrepreneurship.
The commitment to youth development extends across government spheres. The Department of Employment and Labour announced a R462 million fund to benefit over 13,000 unemployed youth in Limpopo for training and skills development. Additionally, the Department of Basic Education will launch Phase V of the Basic Education Employment Initiative (BEEI) in June 2025, aiming to create over 200,000 job opportunities.
The Presidential Youth Employment Initiative (PYEI) has achieved significant milestones, with over 4.6 million youths registered on the National Pathway Management Network (NPMN) and more than 1.5 million earning opportunities secured, reaching marginalised groups including rural youth, young men, and young women.
Educational efforts are supported by the National Student Financial Aid Scheme (NSFAS), which allocated R55.4 billion for the 2025 academic year to assist eligible students from poor and working-class families at public universities and TVET colleges.
Companies are partnering with educational institutions to provide learnerships, internships, and apprenticeships, aligning skills with industry needs. The National Youth Policy 2030 is being evaluated to ensure access to opportunities for youth, encouraging stakeholders to integrate youth development into their programmes.
Youth Month 2025 is structured around four dynamic weekly themes, focusing on skills, jobs, support for SMMEs, and promoting health, aiming to mobilise and empower young people. By investing in young people, South Africa aims to build a skilled workforce and a nation defined by inclusion, innovation, and prosperity.