The Department of Social Development has called for urgent and coordinated action to tackle South Africa’s youth unemployment crisis, urging all sectors to work together to create opportunities for young people.
Speaking at the Vaal EmpowaYouth Week engagement in Sebokeng, Acting Director-General Advocate Gugulethu Thimane encouraged government, civil society and communities to take a more proactive approach.
“I think we need to roll up our sleeves. We need to work and let the young people benefit so that we can see that there's improvement in terms of the numbers and the quality of life.
“The issue of partnerships is very important… because you cannot run the development of the country without other stakeholders. Whether you’re speaking about the non-profit organisations [or] faith-based organisations,” she said.
Youth Unemployment Remains A Major Challenge
Young people make up a large portion of South Africa’s population, yet they continue to face the highest unemployment rates. According to recent data, youth unemployment stood at 43.8% in the fourth quarter of 2025.
Thimane stressed that while government has programmes aimed at supporting youth, better coordination is needed to maximise their impact.
“We know that the biggest challenge we have as a country is youth unemployment. It is a serious issue. What is important… is that we need to be coordinated first as government. There are very good programmes that are happening in government for young people. But I think the problem is… we are not coordinated.
“What I want to propose is… [we need a] database that disaggregates the skills that are there… so that we [can] say to industry, 'make sure that we understand the skills levels',” Thimane said.
Focus On Inclusive Growth And Skills Development
The Acting Director-General highlighted that government’s Medium Term Development Plan prioritises inclusive economic growth, poverty reduction and building a capable state.
“There are three priorities that government took a decision on. The first priority is inclusive growth, so that we make sure that we create more jobs. We must make sure that young people are also included in that priority.
“The second priority… we need to make sure that we address the issue of poverty and the living standards because we have people who are still living below the poverty line. The third priority… was to say that as public administrators, we need to make sure that we build a capable, ethical and developmental State.
“The last part -- the developmental State -- makes sure that young people are included in the mainstream economy. We need to make sure that there’s quality education, [and] that everyone is taken care of,” Thimane said.
Call For Preventative Measures
Thimane also addressed the impact of social challenges such as substance abuse on young people, urging families and communities to play a more active role in prevention.
“We need to make sure that we come up with strategies, rather than being reactive. We need to make sure that prevention is better than cure,” Thimane concluded.
The Vaal EmpowaYouth Week programme brings together stakeholders and communities to find practical solutions to local challenges, with a strong focus on youth development and employment opportunities.
Additional reporting from SANews.gov.za
