JOHANNESBURG – President Cyril Ramaphosa used South Africa’s Youth Day commemorations on Tuesday to announce renewed efforts to tackle youth unemployment and expand economic opportunities, while paying tribute to the generation of 1976 whose resistance helped change the course of the country’s history.
Addressing thousands of young people at Johannesburg’s FNB Stadium on the 50th anniversary of the Soweto Uprising, Ramaphosa said the courage displayed by the youth of June 16, 1976, had secured freedoms that today’s generation must build upon through education, employment and economic participation.
“The question before us today is not whether young people have the courage to change South Africa. The youth of 1976 answered that question. The question before us is whether South Africa is doing enough to create opportunities worthy of their sacrifice,” the President said.
Ramaphosa reflected on the historic student protests against the apartheid government’s imposition of Afrikaans as a medium of instruction, describing the uprising as a turning point in the struggle against apartheid.
He said the 1976 generation stood on the shoulders of earlier liberation leaders and inspired future generations of activists, helping to shape the democratic South Africa that emerged after 1994.
While highlighting progress made since the advent of democracy, Ramaphosa acknowledged that many young South Africans continue to face significant challenges, particularly unemployment.
According to the President, more than 4.7 million young people are currently unemployed, with the youth unemployment rate standing at 46%.
“Behind every statistic is a young person who wants to work, wants to contribute and wants to build a future,” he said.
Ramaphosa outlined a three-pronged government strategy aimed at addressing the crisis, focusing on expanding public employment opportunities, reforming the country’s skills development system and opening greater economic opportunities for young entrepreneurs and job seekers.
He said more than 5.7 million young people are now registered on the SAYouth.mobi platform, with over two million having accessed earning opportunities through the initiative.
The Presidential Employment Stimulus has created work and livelihood opportunities for more than 2.5 million unemployed South Africans, with young people accounting for 82% of beneficiaries.
The President also pointed to the revitalised National Youth Service programme, which has placed more than 130,000 young people in paid service opportunities, while a further 100,000 community service opportunities are currently available.
Ramaphosa said government was strengthening Technical and Vocational Education and Training (TVET) colleges and aligning skills development more closely with labour market needs to ensure qualifications translate into employment and entrepreneurship opportunities.
He further announced that government plans to invest R1 trillion in infrastructure over the next three years, creating opportunities for apprenticeships, artisan training, enterprise development and skills transfer.
The investment will focus on sectors including manufacturing, mining beneficiation, agriculture, renewable energy, logistics, tourism, digital infrastructure and the creative economy.
In a direct appeal to employers, Ramaphosa urged businesses to hire young people based on potential rather than experience.
“The young person in front of you does not lack ability. They lack only the chance to prove it,” he said.
“I am asking you to open the door. Hire for potential, not only for experience.”
The President said government would continue strengthening incentives such as the Employment Tax Incentive to encourage companies to employ first-time job seekers.
Addressing growing public concerns about illegal immigration, crime and service delivery failures, Ramaphosa cautioned against blaming foreign nationals for South Africa’s socio-economic challenges.
“Even as we recognise the challenge of illegal immigration – which we are taking decisive action to address – our problems are our own, and we have a responsibility to fix them ourselves,” he said.
He argued that inequality, sluggish economic growth and weaknesses in service delivery remain the primary causes of many of the country’s challenges.
Ramaphosa called on young South Africans to become active participants in democracy, urging them to register to vote, engage local government structures and hold public representatives accountable.
As South Africa commemorates the 50th anniversary of the Soweto Uprising, the President said the greatest tribute to the youth of 1976 would be creating a country where every young person has access to education, employment and dignity.
“The youth of 1976 fought exclusion. Ours must fight unemployment, poverty and inequality,” Ramaphosa said.
“Let us build a South Africa where every young person can realise their potential. Where opportunity is not the privilege of a few, but the birthright of all.”