BY: Mashudu Magadu
In June 2021, the government of South Africa started the SA Youth program to assist young people in finding jobs and receiving training with the help of different organizations and businesses, despite the country’s high unemployment rate.
The program has helped South Africa’s young people by providing job opportunities. However, there have been problems with scammers infiltrating the system. Recently, there have been accusations that the SA Youth website hosts fake marketing companies.
Applicants on the SA Youth platform have reported receiving suspicious messages claiming they were selected for interviews. These messages often appear unprofessional, containing spelling mistakes, strange abbreviations, unknown phone numbers, and suspicious locations. The fake companies are primarily located in Johannesburg and Pretoria Central.
“We understand that it is frustrating, but many young people are earning a living from marketing jobs, so we can’t stop sharing them. However, we are investigating all complaints to ensure the safety of young people,” stated a representative from the SA Youth platform.
This issue has gained significant attention on social media, with many people sharing their experiences. Some have reported receiving numerous interview invitations, while others have recounted stories of family members disappearing or being robbed after attending fake interviews. Kelebogile Makamu, a college graduate from Pretoria who is currently unemployed, shared her frustration with the situation.
“I was very excited when I received multiple responses from different marketing agencies. I thought everything was coming together. I was very disappointed to discover that they were all illegitimate after doing some research. I would never advise anyone to apply through the SA Youth platform,” she said.
Currently, there is no evidence of unverified criminals using the platform for trafficking. The team is actively gathering more information to investigate, take action, and report back promptly.
“We are deeply concerned about the recent allegations circulating on social media regarding potential scams and criminal activity in connection to Field Marketing roles on the SA Youth platform,” the organization stated.
SA Youth has acknowledged these problems on its social media pages and apologized for the situation. They also defended their vetting process, stating that they carefully screen businesses before partnering with them. The organization emphasized its commitment to addressing these concerns and making its platform safer and more trustworthy.
