Mashatile describes SA's unemployment crisis as a 'moral emergency'
Potchefstroom – Deputy President Paul Mashatile has sounded the alarm on South Africa's deepening youth unemployment crisis, calling it a 'moral emergency' that must be urgently addressed.
Speaking during the Youth Day official commemoration in Potchefstroom, North West, Mashatile honoured the legacy of the 1976 student uprisings.
In the same breath, he warned that today's youth face a different kind of battle, characterised by high unemployment, inequality, and a lack of opportunities, especially in the digital world.
Additionally, he noted with concern that 3.8 million young people are not in education, employment or training.
He said this needs urgent action from all sectors, including the government, business and civil society.
"We must fix the structural challenges in our economy to address inequality and skills mismatch between education and what the job market needs," Mashatile said.
He also took the time to outline several government initiatives aimed at empowering the youth.
They include entrepreneurship support and accelerating youth access to the job market through programmes such as the Presidential Youth Employment Intervention and the recently launched South African National Service Institute (Sansi).
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
SowetanLIVE
an hour ago
- SowetanLIVE
Paul Mashatile addresses young people at Youth Day commemoration event in Potchefstroom
Deputy president Paul Mashatile addressed young people during the 2025 Youth Day commemoration in Potchefstroom, North West, on Monday. The event's theme was 'Skills for a Changing World — Empowering Youth for Meaningful Economic Participation'.
eNCA
3 hours ago
- eNCA
GBV, poverty, and exclusion haunting young people
JOHANNESBURG - The message from young activists on Youth Day is urgent and unapologetic: This is not a day of celebration, but of defiance. Defiance of a system that continues to fail its youth. Defiance of violence, exclusion, and injustice. The civic organisation, Not In My Name, says it's been 49 years since the Soweto Uprising and 31 years since democracy, but for many young people, especially young Black women, freedom remains a promise unfulfilled. The organisation says the youth are still mourning, still fighting, and still demanding real change.
eNCA
3 hours ago
- eNCA
Calls for unity as parties hold separate Youth Day events
JOHANNESBURG - Youth Day is rooted in unity, courage, and collective action. Various political parties held gatherings on Monday to mark the event. WATCH: Youth Day | GBV, poverty, and exclusion haunting young people The Soweto Uprising in 1976 marked when more than 10,000 pupils marched against the introduction of Afrikaans as the medium of instruction in schools. They were met by apartheid police, who opened fire on the children with teargas and live ammunition. The image of Hector Peterson being carried by Mbuyisa Makhubo after being shot brought into sharp focus, the violent oppression of black people under apartheid.
