President Ramaphosa engages with youth on employment and training initiatives

President Cyril Ramaphosa engaged with youth at a National Youth Development Agency event held in Cape Town on 6 February 2024. This occasion marks three years since the launch of two influential youth development initiatives – the Presidential Employment Stimulus (PES) and the Presidential Youth Employment Intervention (PYEI).

The event offered various opportunities for young people to engage with the resources and make the connections they need to thrive in today's economy. The Western Cape Department of Infrastructure was well represented by its Expanded Public Works Programme (EPWP) and its Masakh’iSizwe bursary programme. Masakh’iSizwe supports promising young people to study for tertiary-level qualifications in built environment disciplines at Western Cape universities.

One of the highlights was the Training Hub, where attendees could interact with trainers, mentors, and peers who have benefited from government youth interventions. The Opportunities Hub showcased offerings from stakeholders aimed at facilitating the transition from education to employment for South Africa's young job seekers. In addition, the Partners Hub highlighted the significant contributions from all the PYEI partners.

Since their inception, the PES and PYEI have collectively created over 1.8m job opportunities and provided essential livelihood support, with young individuals being the primary beneficiaries. The Cape Town event came at a crucial time as the President’s sixth administration wraps up its electoral term and prepared for the State of the Nation Address (SONA) on 8 February 2024.

Ramaphosa emphasised the government's commitment to youth development and empowerment, stating, “we are here to listen, to understand the challenges faced by our young people and to ensure we continue to provide the necessary support for them to succeed”.

He reflected on the first three decades of democracy, highlighting the strides made in education and opportunities for young people. He underscored the importance of creating job opportunities for graduates and affirmed the government's dedication to preparing for the future through education, skills development, and employment initiatives.

This dialogue with young people aims to recognise collective efforts and results achieved through strong partnerships and the hard work of beneficiaries, while also rallying a call to action for the next phase of the programme.

All interested participants were encouraged to seize this unique opportunity for direct dialogue with government representatives and policy makers, as South Africa continues its journey towards youth empowerment and inclusive economic growth.