By Levy Masiteng
A call for business to open its doors to young people and help bridge South Africa’s skills gap took centre stage at the 2nd Youth Skills and Business Imbizo held in Midvaal on Monday.
Delivering the keynote address, Deputy Minister of Higher Education and Training Mimmy Gondwe urged industry leaders to actively partner with government by offering internships, apprenticeships and workplace training opportunities.
“We cannot solve unemployment without your participation,” Gondwe said. “We cannot build a skilled workforce in isolation from the workplace. A qualification without workplace experience is incomplete.”
The event was hosted by the Department of Higher Education and Training in collaboration with Midvaal Local Municipality.
It brought together government, business, education institutions and young people to address the country’s youth unemployment crisis.
South Africa’s youth unemployment rate stood at 43.8% in the fourth quarter of 2025, according to the latest official labour force data.
Gondwe said more than three million young people are not in employment, education or training. Official figures show about 3.5 million people aged 15 to 24 fell into that category in the fourth quarter of 2025, accounting for 34.0% of that age group.
She challenged business leaders directly, asking: “If we skill and train young people in the skills you need and demand, will you be able to absorb them?”
Gondwe called on companies to “open your workplaces, provide internships, offer apprenticeships and create continuous pathways for practical training”.
Midvaal Mayor Peter Teixeira echoed the urgency of empowering young people, saying the imbizo was more than just a discussion platform.
“These summits and imbizos are not just talk shows,” Teixeira said.
“We are talking about real, tangible opportunities that are transforming lives, restoring hope and equipping our young people with the skills they need to participate meaningfully in the economy.”
A key highlight of the day was the municipality’s Mayoral Student Financial Aid Programme, which Midvaal increased to more than R1.1 million for the 2026 academic year.
The programme builds on several years of investment in education.
According to Teixeira, since its launch, Midvaal has committed R750,000 annually toward student support, covering tuition, registration, books and laptops.
“To date, more than R2.6 million has been disbursed, benefiting at least 101 students.”
Teixeira said it is part of a strategy to create opportunities for young people through partnerships with institutions such as the Vaal University of Technology and various Sector Education and Training Authorities.
“Our responsibility is to ensure that no young person is left behind due to lack of resources,” he said. “Today is about building a better future for yourselves — use this opportunity wisely.”
Gondwe praised Midvaal’s proactive approach, saying that investing in youth is an investment in the country’s future.
“This is the kind of leadership we must recognise and build upon,” she said. “Now is the time to scale that impact, align skills with opportunities, and ensure every young person has a pathway into the economy.”
She urged the young people in attendance to use the information shared at the event to help open doors for themselves.
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