By Celani Sikhakhane
- Dr Nomusa Dube-Ncube says 37% of young South Africans have no jobs, no education and no training opportunities.
- The Learning for Life Programme unites universities, companies and government to create real jobs and business chances for young graduates.
Deputy Minister of Higher Education Dr Nomusa Dube-Ncube says the high number of unemployed graduates in South Africa is a growing crisis that must be addressed.
She spoke during the launch of the Learning for Life Programme at the University of Johannesburg. The initiative brings together higher education institutions, private companies and government to help young graduates find work and build careers.
The programme is led by multinational company Diageo South Africa, in partnership with the Youth Employment Service (YES) and the University of Johannesburg.
Dube-Ncube said the timing of the launch was important. “Just days ago, on 30 September, Statistics South Africa revealed that our economy shed 80,000 jobs in the second quarter of this year,” she said.
She added that the decline left only 10.51 million people formally employed in the country, with thousands of graduates still searching for work.
“Behind those numbers are young men and women struggling to find opportunity. Particularly worrying is the 37% of youth not in employment, education or training,” she said.
Dube-Ncube said young black women from poor urban and rural areas face the biggest challenges, but the new programme offers hope.
She said the YES Programme achieved a 100% absorption rate last year, with every trainee either finding a job or starting a business.
“This partnership connects education to opportunity and talent to industry,” said Dube-Ncube.
Pictured above: Deputy Minister of Higher Education Dr Nomusa Dube-Ncube speaking at the launch of the Learning for Life Programme in Johannesburg.
Image source: Department of Higher Education
