By Lehlohonolo Lehana.
Deputy Minister in The Presidency, Nonceba Mhlauli says more than 53,000 young people have benefitted from the Presidential Youth Employment Initiative (PYEI) between October and December last year.
Mhlauli was sharing the initiative’s progress during the third quarter of the 2024/25 financial year.
The programme, which was launched in 2020, aims to strengthen the fight against youth unemployment in the country.
South Africa’s youth unemployment rate is currently at a staggering 45.5%, highlighting the urgent need for a solution to the country’s job crisis.
Between October and December of last year, scores of young people secured what the government terms “Temporary earning opportunities.”
The opportunities include work-integrated learning, paid service positions, and work-based placements.
In the same period, young entrepreneurs received support, with more than 14,600 financial and non-financial opportunities provided to help them succeed.
Some beneficiaries of the PYEI have shared how the programme has transformed their lives after struggling with unemployment.
Ayandiswa Same, who secured employment through the programme, said the initiative has played a significant role in helping her regain stability.
“Being unemployed is actually not a good thing. You don’t feel great about yourself and also your confidence is not really high. I know how it feels and that’s why I have a passion to make sure unemployed youth do their best because I push them and I was also pushed.”
Another beneficiary, Emmanual Lala has expressed gratitude to government.
“I am a big witness that these programmes and organisations really made a big impact in my life. So due to that, I would like to say that we the youth see and appreciate all your efforts.”
Meanwhile, the National Youth Development Agency and the Department of Small Business Development supported over 14 600 young entrepreneurs with financial and non-financial enterprise opportunities.
Mhlauli noted that the launch of Revitalised National Youth Service phase three was a key development.
This saw 13 568 new recruits added, increasing the total number of youth placed in service opportunities to 82 387.
She explained that the R300-million Job Boost Outcome Fund programme helps create jobs in digital inclusion, business development, and work-based learning.
The programme was launched in November 2023, and the fund takes a results-driven approach to employment by linking payments to actual job placements.
She said, unlike traditional job creation methods that focus on training and mentorship, this initiative ensures that organisations receive funding only when young people are successfully placed in stable jobs.
She explained that the R300-million Job Boost Outcome Fund programme helps create jobs in digital inclusion, business development, and work-based learning.
The programme was launched in November 2023, and the fund takes a results-driven approach to employment by linking payments to actual job placements.
She said, unlike traditional job creation methods that focus on training and mentorship, this initiative ensures that organisations receive funding only when young people are successfully placed in stable jobs.