As South Africa marks another Youth Month, one of the biggest challenges facing young people remains unchanged, unemployment.
Despite decades of democracy and numerous interventions aimed at creating opportunities for young South Africans, millions continue to struggle to find meaningful work.
President Cyril Ramaphosa recently acknowledged that youth unemployment remains a major threat to the country’s prosperity and social stability, announcing plans to invest R1 trillion over the next three years to stimulate economic growth and create jobs.
However, for many young people, the question remains whether these commitments will finally translate into real opportunities, or whether unemployment will continue to define another generation.
Speaking to VOC News, multimedia strategist at Youth Capital, Siba Nobandla, reflected on the significance of Youth Month and the continued struggle for access and opportunity.
“I think when you look back at the youth of 1976, they were fighting for access. There were barriers under apartheid, but a lot of what they were fighting for was access for young people and for everybody, access to economic opportunities, learning opportunities, skills and unlocking the capabilities of young people in South Africa so they can succeed.
“What we see today, almost 50 years later, is young people in South Africa still fighting for many of those same things, but in a very different way,” Nobandla said.
Listen to the full interview below:
VOC News
Photo: Pexels
