By Rodger Mandhlazi
Deputy President Paul Mashatile didn’t mince his words at this year’s Youth Day commemoration in Potchefstroom, North West — calling South Africa’s soaring unemployment rate a “moral emergency” that demands urgent action from government, business, and society at large.
Addressing the crowd, Mashatile shone a spotlight on the hard truth: young people aged 15 to 34 make up over half of South Africa’s working-age population, but their unemployment rate stands at 32.9%. And when you include discouraged job seekers — those who’ve given up looking for work — that figure jumps to a shocking 43.1%, according to Stats SA.
“More than half of young people between 18 and 34 are unemployed — that’s one of the highest levels we’ve ever seen,” Mashatile said.
He also raised concerns about the 3.8 million young South Africans who are not in education, employment, or training — often referred to as the NEET group. Young women, he noted, are slightly more affected than their male peers.
Time to Think Differently
Mashatile called for a multi-pronged approach to tackle the youth jobs crisis, urging young people to embrace entrepreneurship and shift away from the idea that traditional jobs are the only path forward.
“Young people need to see themselves as job creators, not just job seekers,” he said.
He pointed to government partnerships with organisations like Harambee Youth Employment Accelerator, which aim to fix the disconnect between the skills young people have and what the job market actually needs.
Skills for the Future
The 2025 Youth Day theme — “Skills for a Changing World: Empowering Youth for Meaningful Economic Participation” — couldn’t be more relevant. Mashatile said equipping young people with the right skills for a rapidly changing world is essential for building a more inclusive and resilient economy.
“Whether it’s starting a small business or adapting to the digital economy, we need to future-proof our youth,” he said.
As the country remembers the bravery of the 1976 generation, Mashatile’s message to today’s youth is clear: the fight for economic freedom is far from over — but with the right tools, it’s a battle they can win.
