A province that builds opportunity for our youth
Honourable Speaker,
The 1976 generation, not only rejected the oppression and atrocities meted out by the apartheid regime, they also demanded freedom, justice, and dignity.
Today, it is our responsibility to honour and carry their legacy forward and to build a South Africa where the lives of our youth are dignified and abundant with opportunities.
Unemployment remains the single biggest challenge facing South African youth today. Joblessness threatens their futures, robs them of their dignity, and traps them in a vicious cycle of poverty.
It is evident from the inputs today, that we all agree, that youth unemployment is a challenge we must confront.
GROWTH FOR JOBS
Honourable Speaker, the Western Cape Government has been proactive in addressing this challenge.
Our Provincial Strategic Plan 2025 - 2030, identifies economic growth and job creation as our Apex Priority for the next 5 years. Because we know that without economic growth, we cannot create jobs. And without jobs, we cannot create a better future for the Western Cape people.
Our goal is to create a R1 trillion economy by 2035, growing at 4-6% annually, and creating 600 000 jobs. Yes, these are ambitious goals. But if we are not prepared to be bold now, then we risk failing not only the youth of today, but also the youth of 1976 - who showed us that any mountain can be conquered when you have the courage to try.
The Growth for Jobs strategy is a commitment to the residents of the Western Cape that we are obsessed with improving YOUR lives and ensuring that YOU live a life of dignity and prosperity.
The G4J strategy places the responsibility on each provincial department to play a role in building a Western Cape economy that delivers real opportunities for our young people.
UNEMPLOYMENT RATE
Today, the Western Cape has the lowest unemployment rate in the country. According to the most recent Quarterly Labour Force Survey, the provincial unemployment rate stands at 19.6% in Quarter 1 of 2025. At 33.26%, the Western Cape also has the lowest NEET rate in the country. For comparison, the national rate is at 45.64%.
But more than that, the Western Cape also boasts the highest labour market absorption rate in South Africa. This means that, in this province, if you are looking for a job, you are far more likely to find one.
But we recognise that this may not be the lived experience for every young person in the province. We acknowledge that economic empowerment and access to opportunities are still concepts that are not a reality for many of our young people.
To those young people I want to say that we are working, everyday, to ensure that the opportunities we speak of, reach YOU.
The Western Cape Government will be spending R43.789 Billion over the next three financial years on its Growth for Jobs strategy to help businesses grow and create jobs, and equipping YOU, the youth of Western Cape, to get those jobs.
Through Infrastructure investment, we are building a Western Cape that is open for business. And, by investing billions on Safety; on creating an Educated, Healthy and Caring Society; and on Innovation, Culture and Governance - the Western Cape is equipping its residents to benefit from those economic opportunities.
Our investment in young people begins long before they can even walk. The Department of Health and Wellness’s First 1 000 Days Initiative promotes the health, nutrition, and development of children from conception to the age of two. By supporting mothers, caregivers, and communities during this critical early stage, the initiative lays a strong foundation for a child’s lifelong wellbeing and success.
The Western Cape Education Department, via the National School Nutrition Programme, provides more than 537 000 learners at 1 055 schools nutritious meals every day, ensuring that they have the nourishment needed to support their growing bodies and minds. Additionally, approximately 69 000 learners benefit from scholar transport daily, improving access to education across the province.
And over the past five years, the Western Cape has seen a notable improvement in learner retention for both primary and high school, indicating a decline in dropout rates and an increasing number of learners completing their education.
These initiatives demonstrate that the Western Cape Government is laying a strong foundation for the lifelong wellbeing and opportunity to thrive for every young person in this province.
YOUTH DEVELOPMENT
Honourable Speaker, the Western Cape Government Is not only creating a province where job creation can thrive, we are also proactively creating direct pathways into the economy for young people, with programmes such as:
The Premier’s Advancement of Youth (PAY) Programme, which provides matriculants with valuable first work experience within the Western Cape Government, helping to build skills and confidence early in their careers.
Through the Work and Skills Programme and the Artisan Development Programme, the Department of Economic Development and Tourism equips young people with practical, on-the-job training in high-demand sectors.
To address critical skills shortages in fields like engineering and the built environment, the Department of Infrastructure invests in the next generation of technical professionals through the Masakh’iSizwe Bursary Programme.
The YearBeyond Programme reaches over 3 000 young people each year, with a specific focus on those who are not in education, employment, or training, offering them structured service, training, and pathways to further study or work.
And, through Youth Cafés, the Department of Social Development provides holistic support, including digital literacy, personal development, and vital employability skills.
CONCLUSION
Honourable Speaker, this is all possible because we take our responsibility seriously, and because we believe every young person in this province deserves an opportunity.
As the Western Cape, we will continue to step up, to invest in and support the young people of this province and to build a future that honours the legacy of the 1976 generation.
I thank you.