Future of Jobs Summit aims to tackle youth unemployment in South Africa
As South Africa grapples with the stark reality of youth unemployment, the Future of Jobs Summit is gearing up to present a strategic response aimed at igniting job creation and enhancing digital skills among the country's young population.
Organised by a coalition of technology leaders, including SAP, Adcorp, DP World, Workday, and FNB, the summit seeks to unite the country's most influential minds in both the public and private sectors.
Future of Jobs Summit founder, Nik Eberl, emphasises that this initiative transcends mere discussion.
'It is not another policy talk shop; it is a high-impact platform for action and alignment,' he states, underscoring the urgency of collective efforts to tackle the pressing issue of youth unemployment.
Eberl believes that 'youth unemployment is the greatest threat to our democracy and the greatest opportunity to unlock national prosperity.'
Central to the summit's agenda is the unveiling of innovative strategies and programs designed to attract, develop, and retain top talent.
SAP will take the spotlight with its acclaimed Educate to Employ and Young Professionals Programmes, aimed at equipping thousands of African youths with vital digital skills and pathways to meaningful careers.
'These initiatives are helping to create an inclusive talent pipeline that fuels both local innovation and international competitiveness,' Eberl explains.
The summit is an official event under the T20 framework, the Think Tank of South Africa's G20 Presidency, reinforcing its alignment with the global agenda for inclusive growth, skills development, and job creation for the youth.
With the outcomes report set to be presented to key stakeholders, including the Office of the Presidency and Parliament of South Africa, the summit aims to foster robust public-private partnerships.
Further addressing the overarching theme of inclusivity, the initiative will spotlight South Africa's thriving Global Business Services (GBS) sector.
This sector is lauded as a success story in job creation, having already generated over 150,000 youth jobs and targeting an impressive 500 000 jobs by 2030 with strong support from government and global investors.
'GBS illustrates the potential that thrives when government, business, and skills providers align around a shared goal.
We must now apply that same formula across high-growth sectors from tech and tourism to renewable energy and the care economy,' Eberl urges.
As the summit approaches, anticipation builds around its potential to create scalable solutions and partnerships that can turn the tide on South Africa's high unemployment rate.
With a firm focus on youth employment and digital skills development, the Future of Jobs Summit stands as a beacon of hope in the ongoing effort to build a more resilient and inclusive workforce. Scheduled for May 23, 2025, the summit is set to bring together leaders from government, business, and civil society to address South Africa's unemployment crisis with actionable strategies and innovative partnerships.
The Star
[email protected]
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
The Citizen
12 hours ago
- The Citizen
Africa Food Show: Tapping into the potential of the continent's food and beverage market
Out of the 350 exhibitors at the Africa Food Show 2025, approximately 50% are South African. The inaugural African Food Show will be hosted in Cape Town this week. Picture: Supplied With the African Development Bank estimating that the African food and beverage market is set to reach $1 trillion by 2030, the inaugural Africa Food Show, taking place in Cape Town this week, is tapping into this emerging market. Set to be hosted at the Cape Town International Convention Centre (CTICC), the Africa Food Show is expected to bring together over 350 exhibitors and 6,000 visitors from more than 25 countries. 'Out of the 350 exhibitors at the Africa Food Show 2025, approximately 50% are South African. The remaining exhibitors are international participants from over 30 countries,' Events manager at dmg events, Margaret Peters tells The Citizen. Peters says the balanced representation of exhibitors highlights the show's dual focus. 'Showcasing South Africa's vibrant food and beverage sector while also fostering global trade and collaboration.' The two-day food and beverage gathering is part of the globally recognised Gulfood series, which includes the world's largest food and beverage exhibition in Dubai. 'This association lends the event significant credibility and draws international attention. The show is also backed by dmg events and the Dubai World Trade Centre, both experienced in organizing large-scale global expos,' shares Peters. The show will take place from June 10 to 12. ALSO READ: Cape Town is on the up, here's why Cape Town's appeal Cape Town's global appeal as a film destination is driving a significant economic upswing in the city's hospitality industry. According to the City's Film Permits Office, from November 1, 2023, to June 30, 2024, film crews booked more than 59,000 beds in Cape Town, spending nearly R148 million. The Cape Town CBD is a well-managed CBD, with several partners working together to ensure it is safe, clean, and a welcoming environment in which to visit and conduct business. This is one of the main reasons organisers of the Africa Food Show decided to host their inaugural event on the continent in the Western Cape city. 'Its global appeal, bolstered by a strong tourism sector and vibrant hospitality industry, makes it an attractive destination for both business and leisure travellers,' says Peters. 'Additionally, the city's alignment with themes of innovation and sustainability complements our Africa Food Summit, which focuses on climate-smart and healthy food solutions.' ALSO READ: For all the tea in… Mzansi Industry focused The Africa Food Show is primarily targeted at companies, brands, and industry professionals rather than the general public. Its focus is on creating a platform for business-to-business (B2B) engagement, where food and beverage manufacturers, suppliers, distributors, and retailers can connect, showcase innovations, and explore trade opportunities. 'That said, while the core audience is industry-focused, events like this often include public-access days or consumer-focused segments, especially to promote local products or culinary experiences,' says Peters. NOW READ: Beer lovers and cannabis connoisseurs to gather in Gauteng's biggest cities this weekend
IOL News
15 hours ago
- IOL News
Joseph Kabila's return: What it means for the DRC's political landscape
Then Democratic Republic of the Congo's outgoing President Joseph Kabila (L) shakes hands with newly inaugurated President Felix Tshisekedi at a swearing-in ceremony on January 24, 2019 in Kinshasa. Image: AFP Dr Sizo Nkala The former president of the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC), Joseph Kabila returned to the country last week after spending two years in self-imposed exile in South Africa. Kabila ruled the vast central African country from 2001 after taking over from his father, Laurent Kabila, until 2019 when he handed over the reins to the incumbent President Felix Tshisekedi. Kabila's relationship with President Tshisekedi has deteriorated further since the collapse of their coalition government in 2020. Tshisekedi's government has repeatedly accused Kabila of collaborating with the M23 rebels to overthrow the government and charged him with committing treason, war crimes and crimes against humanity. Kabila has denied these accusations. A few days before Kabila arrived in the DRC, the country's Senate which is controlled by the ruling Sacred Union coalition voted to repeal Kabila's honorary title as a lifelong Senator and lifted his immunity from prosecution on the 23rd of May. The former president responded in a video posted on social media denouncing Tshisekedi's government as a dictatorship and decrying the decline of democracy in the country. He arrived in DRC's eastern city of Goma on May 26. Goma, the strategic capital city of North Kivu province, has been under the control of the M23 since they captured it in January. As such, he will be safe from any arrest as the government in Kinshasa has effectively lost any jurisdiction in the territory. The M23 welcomed Kabila's arrival stating that it wished him a pleasant stay in the city. Since he arrived in Goma, Kabila has tried to portray himself as a peacemaker. He met with religious leaders from North Kivu to discuss the current situation in the DRC in what could be the beginning of a bid to drum up public support and stir an anti-government sentiment. To reduce Kabila's influence in the country, the DRC government has imposed a media blackout on the former president by banning all media outlets including television, radio, print and digital press from covering anything about Kabila and his political party, the People's Party for Reconstruction and Democracy (PPRD). This could be an admission on the part of the government of Kabila's potential to influence public arrives on the scene as the M23 and the DRC government have begun negotiations on the resolution of the conflict. President Tshisekedi and his Rwandan counterpart, Paul Kagame, whose government is believed to be backing the M23 rebels met in person in Qatar in March where they committed to an immediate and unconditional ceasefire. This meeting paved the way for the DRC government and the M23 rebels to begin direct negotiations for the first time since the beginning of the conflict in 2021. Eventually, the two sides agreed to stop the fighting to allow the Qatar talks to proceed. Video Player is loading. Play Video Play Unmute Current Time 0:00 / Duration -:- Loaded : 0% Stream Type LIVE Seek to live, currently behind live LIVE Remaining Time - 0:00 This is a modal window. Beginning of dialog window. Escape will cancel and close the window. Text Color White Black Red Green Blue Yellow Magenta Cyan Transparency Opaque Semi-Transparent Background Color Black White Red Green Blue Yellow Magenta Cyan Transparency Opaque Semi-Transparent Transparent Window Color Black White Red Green Blue Yellow Magenta Cyan Transparency Transparent Semi-Transparent Opaque Font Size 50% 75% 100% 125% 150% 175% 200% 300% 400% Text Edge Style None Raised Depressed Uniform Dropshadow Font Family Proportional Sans-Serif Monospace Sans-Serif Proportional Serif Monospace Serif Casual Script Small Caps Reset restore all settings to the default values Done Close Modal Dialog End of dialog window. Advertisement Next Stay Close ✕ Ad loading The Rwandan and DRC foreign ministers later met in Washington, US, in April where they signed an agreement pledging mutual respect for each other's sovereignty and a commitment to desist from availing military aid to non-state actors. The two parties also promised to produce a draft peace deal at the beginning of May. According to President Donald Trump's Senior Advisor for Africa, Massad Boulous, the draft peace plan was duly submitted early in May. Negotiations are underway to produce a final draft. However, the talks between the DRC government and the M23 have since stalled as fighting is continuing unabated despite the earlier commitments to an unconditional ceasefire. On June 4 pro-government forces clashed with M23 forces in South Kivu. The latter also announced that it would attack a government military base located between Masisi and Walikale districts. The continued fighting could be an indication that both parties are not willing to make major concessions in the negotiations and may be trying to bolster their negotiating positions through military presence of Kabila in Goma adds a new dynamic to the conflict. The fact that Corneille Nangaa, a former close ally of Kabila who served as his election chief, is the leader of the M23 rebels does indeed draw a direct link between the former president and the rebel group thus lending credence to the government's claims. Kabila and the M23 share a common goal of overthrowing the Tshisekedi regime. While the M23 has the forces and the military muscle, its influence seems to be localized. It is also struggling to shake off the image of being the proxy of a foreign power thus limiting its political appeal to the broad section of the DRC population. Having led the country for 18 years, Kabila still commands a significant following among the Congolese people and the political class. Just a few years ago he headed the Common Front for Congo (FCC) coalition that won almost 70 per cent of the seats in the Congolese parliament in the 2018 elections and managed to secure key posts in Tshisekedi's government until their fallout in 2020.
Eyewitness News
a day ago
- Eyewitness News
Zambia declares national mourning for ex-president Edgar Lungu
LUSAKA, Zambia - Zambia on Saturday declared seven days of national mourning in honour of the country's former president Edgar Lungu, who died in South Africa on Thursday, the government said. Lungu, who died at the age of 68, ruled the large but sparsely populated southern African nation from January 2015 until August 2021, when he lost to current President Hakainde Hichilema. "The government of the republic of Zambia wishes to inform the nation that President Hakainde Hichilema has accorded a state funeral to the sixth president, Edgar Lungu, who died on 5 June," said the secretary to the cabinet, Patrick Kangwa. The government announced that all flags would fly at half-mast from June 8 to 14 and that entertainment events would be suspended during that time. Kangwa said that the body of Lungu would arrive in Zambia next Wednesday and that Belvedere Lodge in the capital Lusaka had been designated as the official place of mourning. Lungu was receiving specialised medical treatment in a clinic in Pretoria, South Africa, his political party the Patriotic Front (PF) said. He was suffering from recurring achalasia, a condition caused by narrowing of the oesophagus.
