Empowering the youth through innovation

A YEAR into South Africa's Government of National Unity (GNU), the country's young people remain trapped at the precipice of despair.

- PROFESSOR KHEHLA NDLOVU

The promise of job opportunities and pathways for entrepreneurship continues to diminish, especially in a world increasingly led by a youthful population whose inventive thinking often conflicts with the traditional methods of those in power.

This disconnection is not merely an abstract idea; it is a tangible reality for millions, showing as a deep sense of exclusion and a suppression of potential.

The grim reality of South Africa's youth unemployment crisis is stark and well-documented. Statistics SA's Quarterly Labour Force Survey for the first quarter of this year paints a sobering picture: young people aged 15-24 face a staggering unemployment rate of 62.4%, while those aged 25-34 contend with 40.4%. These are not just numbers; they represent a generation sidelined, their energy and creativity unharnessed.

With 20 million South Africans aged between 15 and 34, this demographic forms the largest segment of our population. This demographic dividend, a potential driver of economic growth and social progress, is instead becoming a source of national concern. This alarming reality requires urgent and decisive action, moving beyond mere discussion to implement tangible and impactful measures across all sectors of society.

Our collective response must begin at home, extend through our communities, reshape our educational institutions, and energise our civil, public, and private sectors. The goal should be to nurture an active, future-oriented population, equipped to become tomorrow's leaders and innovators. Importantly, this quest for solutions must fully harness the transformative potential of technology.