Keynote address by the Deputy Minister in The Presidency, Nonceba Mhlauli, on the occasion of the Youth in Action Expo 2026, Cape Town International Convention Centre
Programme Director;
The Chief Executive Officer of the Cape Town International Convention Centre, T Taubie Motlhabane
Founder of Gift of the Givers, Dr Imtiaz Sooliman
Chief Director: Skills Development, Department of Economic Development and Tourism Western Cape Government, Mr. Nezaam Joseph
Executive Deputy Mayor & Mayoral Committee Member: Spatial Planning and Environment, City of Cape Town, Alderman Eddie Andrews
Representatives of our Universities, TVET Colleges and Schools;
Our valued partners from Civil Society and Community Organisations;
Distinguished guests;
Ladies and Gentlemen
Molweni! Good morning!
It is a pleasure to be back!
This is my second opportunity to address the Youth in Action Expo, and I must say that returning to this platform is truly an honour. Last year, I left inspired by the remarkable energy, ambition and determination of the thousands of young people gathered here.
I was reminded that South Africa's youth are not waiting on the sidelines for change to happen. You are actively seeking opportunities. You are asking important questions. You are investing in yourselves. Most importantly, you are determined to shape your own future. I want to thank the Cape Town International Convention Centre and each of the more than 170 organisations that have made this Expo what it is. In just three years, this gathering has grown from 1,500 young people to over 14,000. That is not a statistic.
That is a movement. It tells us something our country urgently needs to hear young South Africans are not waiting for the future to arrive they are showing up to build it.
The Challenges Our Youth Face
South Africa is a young nation. Two out of every three people are under 35. That is a huge asset but also a huge responsibility, because too many young people cannot find work. I know the questions you ask yourselves. Will I get a job? How do I get experience when every job needs experience? What if I cannot afford to study? Is a degree my only option? Can I start my own business? These are real questions and government hears you. But let me be honest: government cannot fix this alone. Solving youth unemployment needs all of us government, business, schools, colleges, and you working together.
Programme Director,
I want to start where every young person's journey begins, education. There is a reason that our Constitution guarantees the right to education. There is a reason that government spends the single largest portion of the national budget on education more than on any other function. It is because education is the most powerful engine of individual mobility and national prosperity that has ever existed.
It is the single greatest equaliser in an unequal society. But let me be clear about something: education does not mean one path. It does not mean that every young person must go to university. That idea has done enormous damage to young South Africans who have gifts, talents, and ambitions that a traditional academic degree was never designed to serve.
The Power of TVET Colleges, Universities, knowledge, and research
If I could leave you with one message today, it is this: TVET is not a second choice it is a pathway to opportunity. South Africa's 50 public TVET colleges offer qualifications in fields such as engineering, information technology, agriculture, hospitality, business, and the skilled trades that drive our economy.
These are the skills our industries need, and many cannot easily be replaced by technology. Many successful entrepreneurs, artisans and business owners began their journeys at TVET colleges, proving that success is determined by your skills, commitment, and ambition not by the type of institution you attend. Through the National Skills Fund, the SETAs and partnerships with industry, government continues to strengthen TVET education to ensure graduates are equipped with skills that employers are looking for.
At the same time, our 26 public universities remain essential in producing the professionals, innovators, and leaders our country needs. Whether you choose university or TVET, what matters most is how you apply your knowledge. Be intentional about gaining practical experience through internships, volunteering, and leadership opportunities. Qualifications open doors, but it is your initiative, adaptability, and willingness to keep learning that will determine your success.
NSFAS: Removing the Financial Barrier
I know what many of you are thinking. This all sounds good, but how do I pay for it?
Let me tell you about the National Student Financial Aid Scheme, NSFAS. NSFAS is government's primary vehicle for ensuring that no young South African is denied an education because of their background. If you come from a household with a combined annual income of R350,000 or less or R600,000 or less if you are a person living with a disability, you qualify for NSFAS funding. And NSFAS does not only cover tuition fees.
It covers accommodation. It covers books and learning materials. It covers meals. It covers a travel allowance. It is a comprehensive bursary designed to ensure that you can focus on your studies without the constant anxiety of how you are going to survive. For those in the so-called "missing middle" households earning between R350,001 and R600,000 per year NSFAS also offers a student loan facility, with favourable repayment terms that only begin once you are employed and earning above a certain threshold.
Here is what I want you to do: if you are considering university or TVET college and you are worried about funding, visit the NSFAS website at www.nsfas.org.za. Find out if you qualify. The application window for the 2027 academic year will open later this year. Do not wait. Do not assume you will not qualify. Apply. The funding exists but you must take the first step.
The Presidential Youth Employment Intervention: From Learning to Earning
Programme Director,
Education is only the beginning the real challenge is ensuring that young people can successfully transition from learning to earning. That is why, in 2020, President Cyril Ramaphosa launched the Presidential Youth Employment Intervention (PYEI), government's flagship response to youth unemployment and a key responsibility of my office as Deputy Minister in the Presidency.
At the heart of the PYEI is the National Pathway Management Network (NPMN), which brings together government departments, the Employment Services of South Africa (ESSA), SAYouth.mobi, the National Youth Development Agency, Harambee, universities, TVET colleges, the private sector and civil society into one coordinated network.
Its purpose is to connect young people with jobs, internships, learnerships, apprenticeships and other opportunities more efficiently. The impact has been significant. Since its launch, the PYEI has facilitated access to more than 2.5 million earning opportunities, while over 5.9 million young people are registered on SAYouth.mobi and more than 5.36 million on the ESSA platform. In the first quarter of 2026 alone, 155,161 new opportunities were created, with more than 70% accessed by young women. These achievements demonstrate government's commitment to creating practical pathways into employment and economic participation for South Africa's youth.
Programme Director,
let me tell you about a young woman I met recently. Her name is Adelia Njabulo Nqubuka. Adelia registered on SAYouth.mobi. She enrolled in a programme ran by our partner, the Harambee Youth Employment Accelerator. She did not have connections. She did not have capital. What she had was the willingness to take that first step to register, to show up, to learn. She used that opportunity to gain skills and experience. And today, Adelia owns her own construction company.
Think about that. A young woman, in a sector historically dominated by men, who started with nothing but a registration on a free mobile platform and today she is an employer. She is building. She is leading. She is proof that the pathway works. Adelia's story reminds us of something fundamental: opportunity can change a life, but young people must take the first step. Government can build the platforms. We can fund the programmes.
We can forge the partnerships. But the registration must come from you. The application must come from you. The decision to walk through the door when it opens that must come from you. We want thousands more success stories like Adelia's across South Africa. And the only difference between Adelia and anyone else in this room is that she took the first step. You can do the same. Today. Right here.
SAYouth.mobi — Your Digital Gateway
I want every young unemployed person in this room to do one thing today. Take out your phone. Go to www.SAYouth.mobi. Register. It is completely free. It is zero-rated on participating mobile networks. You do not need a single megabyte of data. You do not need a laptop. You do not need a CV written by a professional.
You just need your details, your qualifications, and a sense of where you want to go. Whether you are still in school, studying at a TVET college or university, or a graduate searching for your first break, SAYouth.mobi meets you where you are. It will match you with jobs, learnerships, internships, apprenticeships, bursaries, digital skills training, volunteering, and workplace experience. And once you are registered, it will notify you when something comes up. The platform works for you.
The Youth Employment Service: Public-Private Partnership in Action
One of the greatest challenges facing many graduates is the lack of work experience. Too often, young people are told they cannot get a job because they have no experience, yet they cannot gain experience without being given an opportunity.
That is why the Youth Employment Service (YES) is such an important initiative. As one of government's key private-sector partners, YES provides unemployed young people with meaningful workplace experience, helping them build their CVs, gain valuable skills, and improve their chances of securing permanent employment.
It is a powerful example of how government and business can work together to tackle youth unemployment. To every graduate looking for that first opportunity, I encourage you to explore the programmes available through YES. Your first opportunity can become the foundation for a successful career, and initiatives like YES are helping to open those doors.
Skills Development: The Bridge to Opportunity
Programme Director,
Between education and employment lies a critical bridge: skills development. Qualifications are important, but employers are also looking for practical, industry-relevant skills. That is why government invests in the Sector Education and Training Authorities (SETAs), which work with industry to identify skills shortages and fund learnerships, apprenticeships, internships, and other workplace-based training opportunities.
These programmes provide practical experience, nationally recognised qualifications and, in many cases, a stipend while participants learn. Government also supports skills development through the National Skills Fund, the National Youth Service, and partnerships with organisations such as Harambee Youth Employment Accelerator, ensuring that young people gain the skills and experience needed to access employment. As our economy becomes increasingly digital, I also encourage every young person to develop digital skills such as coding, data analysis, digital marketing, cybersecurity, or cloud computing. These skills are in growing demand and can open opportunities across almost every sector of the economy.
Entrepreneurship: Build It Yourself
Not every young person in this room wants to work for someone else and that is a good thing. South Africa will not solve its unemployment crisis by relying on big business and government alone. We need a generation of young people who will build enterprises, create jobs, and solve problems in their communities.
How Government Supports Young Entrepreneurs
For those who dream of creating jobs rather than only seeking them, government is committed to supporting youth entrepreneurship. The National Youth Development Agency (NYDA) provides entrepreneurship training, mentorship, business development support, and grant funding to help young people start and grow their businesses. Young entrepreneurs can also access support through institutions such as the Small Enterprise Development and Finance Agency (SEDFA), the Small Enterprise Finance Agency (SEFA), the Industrial Development Corporation (IDC) and the National Empowerment Fund (NEF), while the Department of Small Business Development offers incubation programmes and market access opportunities.
Through the Presidential Youth Employment Intervention (PYEI) and SAYouth.mobi, aspiring entrepreneurs can also be connected to relevant support and opportunities. If you have a business idea, I encourage you to visit the NYDA stand at this Expo. Ask questions, explore the support available and take the first step. Every successful business began as an idea, and with the right support, your idea could become the next enterprise that creates jobs and drives economic growth.
Women's Month: Honouring the Past, Empowering the Future
Programme Director,
As we gather today, we do so at a significant moment in our national calendar. August is Women's Month, and in just a few days we will commemorate the 70th anniversary of the historic 1956 Women's March to the Union Buildings. More than 20,000 courageous women united to oppose injustice, proving that collective action can change the course of history. Their enduring rallying cry, "Wathint' Abafazi, Wathint' Imbokodo," continues to remind us of the strength and resilience of South African women.
This year's Women's Month theme of Empowerment reminds us that the struggle of those women was not only for political freedom, but also for access to education, economic opportunity, and dignity. That work continues today. To the young women in this room: know that your potential is limitless. Government remains committed to expanding opportunities for young women, and today more than 70% of the opportunities created through the Presidential Youth Employment Intervention (PYEI) have been accessed by young women. We recognise the barriers many still face and remain committed to creating a more inclusive and equitable society.
To the young men here today: the empowerment of women strengthens our nation. Be allies in advancing equality, challenging discrimination, and supporting the women around you. Together, we can build the non-sexist South Africa envisioned in our Constitution. As we honour the women of 1956, let us also ask ourselves: What will our generation do to build on the legacy they entrusted to us?
Ladies and Gentlemen
As I conclude, let me leave you with this thought: your future starts now. Government is building a coordinated system of support to help young people move from learning to earning through the Presidential Youth Employment Intervention, the Presidential Employment Stimulus, SAYouth.mobi, ESSA, the National Youth Development Agency, the Youth Employment Service, SETAs, the National Skills Fund, TVET colleges, universities, NSFAS, and partnerships with organisations such as Harambee.
These initiatives exist to remove barriers, create opportunities, and connect you to education, skills, entrepreneurship, and employment. But no programme can replace your own determination. Your future will be shaped by the choices you make, the opportunities you pursue and the courage you show in taking that first step.
So, before you leave this Expo, ask questions, make connections, explore every opportunity available and believe in your potential. Together, let us build a South Africa where every young person has not only the freedom to dream, but the opportunity to realise those dreams. The future is not something we wait for it is something we build, together.
Enkosi, Dankie, I thank you.
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