Statistics South Africa reported that, in the second quarter of 2024, 8.4 million South Africans, or 33.5% of the workforce, were unemployed. Of this group, youth unemployment stood at a staggering 45.5% or approximately 4.9 million young people. In light of this ongoing crisis, the Johannesburg Business School (JBS), in collaboration with the Department of Higher Education and Training and Richfield College, hosted the Skills and Jobs Investment Summit on Wednesday, 6 November 2024.
The summit brought together key stakeholders, including government leaders, tech industry representatives, business leaders, and experts from the post-school education and training (PSET) sector, all united by the goal of finding practical solutions to combat the country’s unemployment crisis. JBS, the business school of the University of Johannesburg (UJ), provided the venue for the one-day event, which was masterfully hosted by Dr Alistair Mokoena, former Country Director of Google South Africa.
In his opening remarks, JBS Dean, Professor Randall Carolissen, emphasised the summit’s importance in securing a brighter future for South Africa’s youth. “This gathering is vital because it secures the future of our country. It is about ensuring that our children have the opportunity to engage economically and achieve the future they deserve,” he said.
The keynote address by Deputy Minister of Higher Education and Training, Dr Mimmy Gondwe, reinforced the crucial role of public-private partnerships in addressing unemployment. Using African proverbs, or ‘village wisdom nuggets,’ Dr Gondwe poignantly highlighted the dangers of neglecting the youth. “Wisdom nugget no.3, which says, ‘A young man who does not feel the embrace of his village will someday burn it down to feel its warmth,’ should concern us all. It means we must create a society where the youth do not feel forsaken, or we risk fostering an environment of exclusion and unrest,” she warned.
Dr Gondwe also highlighted several pressing issues, including the low workplace absorption rate for women, the high unemployment rate among people living with disabilities, and the disconnect between post-school qualifications and actual employment opportunities. She ended her speech with a call to action, urging the summit participants to ensure that the event did not merely serve as another “talk shop,” but instead led to actionable results.
Lebogang Sethusha, Social Policy Manager at Business Unity South Africa (BUSA), outlined the critical role the business community must play in skills development. “For businesses, investing in skills development is not just a strategic advantage, but a necessity in order to thrive in today’s competitive landscape. By prioritising employee training and development, organisations can boost performance, increase retention, and foster a culture of innovation,” Sethusha explained.
Sethusha also raised concerns about the inefficiencies within South Africa’s PSET system, particularly the misalignment between qualifications and job market demands. She pointed to the challenges faced by the Skills Education and Training Authorities (SETAs), which, according to Sethusha, often fail to direct funding effectively. “The SETA system faces significant challenges, including a distortion of its intended purpose, which results in funding not reaching those who need it most. These issues must be addressed to ensure that the system effectively supports skills development across the country,” she said.
Sethusha concluded by reiterating the importance of ongoing investment in skills development for South Africa to maintain its competitiveness in the global labour market.
Richfield College’s Group Chief Academic Officer, Shireen Chengadu, expressed her appreciation to JBS and the Department of Higher Education for the opportunity to participate in the summit. Chengadu shared insights into Richfield College’s approach to ensuring that their graduates are equipped with the skills and qualifications needed to succeed in the labour market, stressing the importance of work-readiness as a critical factor for employability.
The summit proved to be an invaluable platform for dialogue and action on one of South Africa’s most urgent issues. With continued collaboration between government, business, and educational institutions, there is hope that meaningful progress can be made towards eradicating the nation’s unemployment crisis.
