PRESS RELEASE
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Millions of Young South Africans Are Left in Temporary Jobs – Youth Capital Calls for Sustainable Solutions!
As the President prepares to deliver the State of the Nation Address (SONA) on 12 February, Youth Capital is calling on government to prioritise the stability and sustainability of public employment programs for young people.
Youth unemployment has featured in previous State of the Nation Addresses, but the issue continues to be addressed through short-term interventions that leave young people navigating persistent uncertainty.
“For many young people, life is shaped by not knowing what comes next,” says Youth Capital Project Lead, Buhlebethu Magwaza. “They don’t know if the program they are currently on will exist next year, whether their income will continue, or how they are meant to plan their lives around work that is temporary by design.”
Evidence on the ground suggest that this uncertainty is structural rather than accidental. Nearly six years after the onset of COVID-19, public employment programs remain largely short-term, with limited clarity on continuation, funding cycles, or pathways into stable work.
“Young people are often positioned as beneficiaries who need to be prepared for work, instead of as citizens who need access to stable employment,” Magwaza adds. “Public employment programs play an important role, but without continuity and clear pathways, they function as holding measures rather than foundations for sustainable livelihoods.”
We are also cautioning against placing sole emphasis on skills development without addressing the availability of sustainable jobs.
“Skills matter, but skills alone do not create employment,” says Magwaza. “Without a clear plan for where long-term work will come from, young people are left cycling between short contracts, stipends, and periods of unemployment.”
As SONA 2026 approaches, Youth Capital calls on strengthening pathways from public employment to stable work, improve program funding and show whether government is committed to real stability for young people.
ENDS
For media enquiries and interview requests:
Murphy Nganga – Communication Lead, Youth Capital
Email: murphy@youthcapital.co.za
Mobile: 073 9874061