Johannesburg: Young people seeking workplace experience and on-the-job training can register on the SA Youth.mobi recruitment platform to connect with potential employers. Registration is free, and the platform is zero-rated, meaning users can access the site and its contents without incurring data charges.
According to South African Government News Agency, President Cyril Ramaphosa announced during the National Youth Day commemoration in Johannesburg that more than 5.7 million young people are now registered on the SA Youth.mobi platform, with over 2 million having gained access to earning opportunities. The initiative has successfully created work and livelihood opportunities for more than 2.5 million unemployed South Africans, with 82 percent of them being young people and 66 percent women. The pilot phase of the Jobs Boost Outcomes Fund has enrolled over 9,000 young people, with more than 7,200 successfully placed into employment.
The recruitment platform was established through the Presidential Youth Employment Intervention (PYEI), supported by various organizations, including Harambee Youth Employment Accelerator, the Department of Employment and Labour, and the National Youth Development Agency. The initiative aims to provide young people in South Africa with a broad range of opportunities, focusing on gaining work experience and linking them to jobs, entrepreneurship, and skills development.
The revitalised National Youth Service has placed more than 130,000 young people in paid service opportunities, with an additional 100,000 community service youth employment opportunities currently available. These initiatives aim to give young people a foothold in the workforce while working towards creating an inclusive economy with sustainable jobs.
Ramaphosa emphasized the importance of aligning training with employment opportunities, enhancing Technical and Vocational Education and Training (TVET) colleges, and linking them with local economies. The government plans to invest R1 trillion in infrastructure over the next three years, which will create further opportunities for apprenticeships, artisan development, and skills transfer for young people.
The President highlighted sectors such as manufacturing, digital infrastructure, agriculture, and energy as key areas for job creation, stressing the need for young people to be trained, work, and build businesses in these industries. Additionally, the small business portfolio will support one million micro, small, and medium-sized enterprises, with the Public Procurement Act aiming to use state buying power to support enterprises owned by young people, women, and persons with disabilities.