The biggest challenge facing youth in the Western Cape and South Africa is unemployment. According to StatsSA, South Africa’s youth continues to bear the burden of unemployment, with 63,9% of those aged 15-24 currently unemployed and 42,1% of those aged 25-34 years, while the current official national rate stands at 34,5%.

There are many reasons for youth unemployment, such as lack of available jobs; job applicants not having the necessary experience needed; young people using inappropriate ways of searching for a job; and lack of career guidance in schools or at home. These challenges  make many young people feel alienated, and many have lost hope of finding a job.

While the youth of 1976 fought against the system of the apartheid government, our youth of today face new challenges, but a better future is possible if we take small steps together. The Western Cape Government remains committed to helping our youth through internships, learnerships and bursary programmes. 

2022 marks the 46th anniversary of the 1976 Student uprising. To celebrate Youth Month and Youth Day this year, national government launched the theme: Promoting sustainable livelihoods and resilience of young people for a better tomorrow, the call to action will be for youth to:

Forge resilience and pursue opportunities for a sustainable livelihood today and in the future. 

Why do we celebrate Youth Day?

What the Western Cape is doing for our youth

The Western Cape Government is serious about increasing the number of young people getting on-the-job training as apprentices, and it is one of our initiatives. 

“Apprenticeships represent the first step on the career ladder for a lot of young people. But employers need to be at the centre of this, creating a bridge that will take them from their educational institutions into the workplace, where they can learn skills that are vital to our economy,” Minister Alan Winde said.

The five sectors, with examples of some of the skills required, are:

• Oil and Gas: Air conditioner technicians, refrigeration mechanics, boat builders, bricklayers, riggers, pipe fitters
• Tourism: Bakers, tour guides, chefs, sports and fitness instructors
• Agri-processing: Electricians, fitters and turners, microbiologists, food technicians
• Energy: civil engineers, environmental health specialists, electricians
• ICT: Software developers, programmers, systems analysts, telecommunications engineers.

An integrated approach to youth development

Read more about the various programmes and initiatives we've put in place to help our youth reach their full potential.

Youth Cafés

The YDS has opened the way for projects like our Youth Cafés which offer skills development programmes. 

MOD Programme

The Mass participation, Opportunity and access, Development and growth (MOD) Programme aims to create a socially inclusive, creative, and active Western Cape.

Year Beyond 

Apply for this programme if you’d like to tutor primary and high school learners. Year Beyond is an educational outreach programme that aims to assist underperforming schools while allowing you to gain new skills.

Premier’s Advancement of Youth (PAY) project

Started by Premier Helen Zille, this project aims to provide recent matriculants with the opportunity to gain work experience in the Western Cape Government.

ePortal

Explore the education apps, videos, eBooks, and online courses available on our ePortal will improve your grades and help you realise your full potential.

Bursaries and learnerships

Use this page to find a bursary from engineering to accounting and kick start your future.

National Expanded Public Works Programme (EPWP)

This programme aims to reduce poverty and unemployment by providing temporary work, an allowance and training. EPWP beneficiaries work in various places in the districts of the Western Cape, changing their young lives for the better.

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