George expo tells jobless youth: 2.5 million chances already open, register and take one

Deputy Minister in the Presidency Nonceba Mhlauli has called on young people to take up the education, skills, employment and entrepreneurship opportunities already on offer, telling an expo in Thembalethu, George, that the state can open the doors but young people must walk through them.

Addressing the Youth Career and Services Expo in the Western Cape town, Mhlauli said the event was about more than displaying services. It was, she said, about connecting young people to opportunities, bringing government closer to communities and making sure the support available through government and its partners reaches those who need it most.

She set out the obstacles in plain terms: unemployment, limited access to education and training, a lack of workplace experience, and difficulty getting funding, mentorship and business opportunities.

“It is therefore not enough to encourage young people to work hard and pursue their dreams. We must work collectively to ensure that they have access to the information, resources and opportunities needed to turn their aspirations into reality,” Mhlauli said on Thursday.

She pointed young people at both of the country’s post-school routes, noting that South Africa’s 50 public TVET colleges offer qualifications in engineering, information technology, agriculture, hospitality, business and skilled trades, while the 26 public universities develop professionals, researchers, innovators and leaders.

“Whether you choose a university or a TVET college, what matters is how you apply your knowledge. I encourage young people to pursue internships, apprenticeships, volunteering, leadership and practical workplace experience. Qualifications open doors, but initiative, adaptability and a commitment to lifelong learning help you progress,” she said.

On money, she urged prospective students who fear they cannot afford study to check the National Student Financial Aid Scheme rather than assume they will not qualify. Applications for the 2027 academic year are still open and are expected to close on 31 October 2026.

“If you are considering university or TVET college but are concerned about affordability, visit www.nsfas.org.za to establish whether you qualify. Do not assume that you will not qualify before checking the requirements,” she said.

Mhlauli also highlighted the National Skills Fund, the Sector Education and Training Authorities and industry partnerships as the machinery meant to tie training to what the labour market actually needs.

She put numbers to the Presidential Youth Employment Intervention, launched by President Cyril Ramaphosa in 2020 to respond to youth unemployment. At its centre is the National Pathway Management Network, which links young people to jobs, internships, learnerships, apprenticeships and other earning opportunities through partnerships between government, educational institutions, the private sector and civil society.

According to Mhlauli, the intervention has facilitated access to more than 2.5 million earning opportunities, while more than 5.9 million young people are registered on SAYouth.mobi and over 5.36 million on Employment Services of South Africa. In the first quarter of 2026 alone, 155 161 new opportunities were created, with more than 70% accessed by young women.

“These figures demonstrate the scale of efforts to connect young people to economic participation. However, we recognise that more work remains to ensure that opportunities are accessible and lead to meaningful, sustainable livelihoods,” she said.

She told the expo the story of Adelia Njabulo Nqubuka, who registered on SAYouth.mobi and enrolled in a programme run by Harambee Youth Employment Accelerator. Starting without established connections or business capital, Nqubuka built her skills and experience and went on to establish her own construction company, a sector historically dominated by men.

“Her story demonstrates what can happen when opportunity meets initiative. Government can establish platforms, support programmes and build partnerships, but young people must also register, apply and pursue the opportunities available to them,” the Deputy Minister said.

She encouraged unemployed young people to register on SAYouth.mobi, which she said is free and zero-rated on participating mobile networks.

This report is drawn from the SAnews (South African Government News Agency) account of the Deputy Minister’s address, published at https://www.sanews.gov.za/south-africa/call-young-people-seize-available-opportunities. The figures on opportunities and registrations are those Mhlauli gave at the expo.