Author: MIL-OSI Publisher

Source: President of South Africa –

Programme Directors,
Mr Colin Coleman and Mr Stephen Koseff, Co-Chairs of YES,
Mr Ravi Naidoo, Chief Executive Officer of YES,
Ms Phindile Baleni, Director General of The Presidency
Members of the YES Board,
Representatives from business, organised labour, government and civil society,
Distinguished guests,

Good morning.

Thank you for the opportunity to join you virtually at this important strategy session.
As we gather during Youth Month, we are reminded that this year marks 50 years since the historic uprising of 16 June 1976. The youth of South Africa have repeatedly demonstrated that they do not lack ideas, talent, resilience or courage. What many continue to lack is access to opportunity.

South Africans want a government that works for all, especially for young people, who make up almost 60 per cent of our population. The challenge before us is therefore not whether our young people have potential. The challenge is whether we are creating enough pathways for them to realise that potential.

In my role overseeing the Presidential Youth Employment Initiative, my focus has been on ensuring that youth employment interventions deliver measurable outcomes, that progress is tracked through credible data, and that accountability remains at the centre of implementation.

Over the past year, I have had the opportunity to engage directly with the YES programme and to review its work more closely. What I have seen convinces me that there are important lessons from YES that government should leverage as we scale up youth employment interventions nationally.
The impact of YES is significant.

Ladies and gentlemen, as President Cyril Ramaphosa noted, YES has become the largest corporate-funded twelve-month youth jobs initiative in the world.

The programme has created more than 228,000 youth job opportunities and has achieved consistent annual growth over recent years.

The network of more than 2,000 sponsoring companies, together with thousands of host businesses, represents one of the largest active private sector partnerships supporting youth employment in South Africa.

YES now accounts for the majority of demand-led opportunities within the Presidential Youth Employment Initiative ecosystem.

Importantly, YES is also helping to cultivate entrepreneurship. Many young people who complete the programme go on to start businesses of their own, creating opportunities not only for themselves but for others.

These achievements deserve recognition.

What makes the YES model particularly noteworthy is that it delivers these outcomes without direct taxpayer funding. Through the B-BBEE recognition framework, government has created an enabling environment, while business has stepped forward with investment, innovation and implementation capacity.

This is exactly the type of public-private partnership that South Africa needs more of.
Programme Director, I would also like to congratulate YES on receiving the SENTECH Africa Impact Tech Award earlier this year.

The award highlights something that is sometimes overlooked. YES is not only a youth employment programme. It is also a technology-enabled platform.

I have seen first-hand the monitoring and evaluation systems that have been developed. These systems allow YES to operate at scale, maintain quality, and achieve impressive levels of cost efficiency.

Equally important is the commitment to independent verification. Every registered programme is subject to third-party verification through accredited agencies. This gives confidence to government, business and the public that the outcomes being reported are credible and measurable.

Ladies and gentlemen,

While we celebrate these achievements, we must also confront reality.

South Africa continues to face an unprecedented youth unemployment crisis. The latest labour market data reminds us that too many young people remain excluded from economic opportunity.

The question before us is therefore: what must we do next?

Allow me to propose five areas of focus.

Firstly, we must make participation easier.

In the 2026 State of the Nation Address, President Ramaphosa committed that government would introduce measures to make it easier for companies to participate in YES.

As the Deputy Minister responsible for oversight of the Presidential Youth Employment Initiative, I intend to ensure that government honours this commitment. We must remove unnecessary barriers and create a more enabling environment for businesses that are willing to invest in young people.

Secondly, YES should play a more central role within the broader PYEI ecosystem.

YES is the official demand partner of the initiative and possesses deep relationships with the private sector. As government refines and expands the PYEI strategy, we should draw more deliberately on the experience, insights and capabilities that YES brings.

Thirdly, we must better align private sector commitments with youth employment outcomes.

South Africa hosts numerous investment conferences, sector engagements and business pledges. We should work more closely together to ensure that a portion of these commitments is translated into concrete opportunities for young people through proven mechanisms such as YES.

Fourthly, we must strengthen pathways from education into work.

This includes supporting TVET college students, graduates and young people entering the labour market for the first time.

Workplace experience remains one of the most important factors in determining employability. We therefore need stronger partnerships that allow businesses to use youth placements as part of their broader skills development strategies.

We must also continue engaging National Treasury and other stakeholders on incentives that support youth employment and ensure they remain fit for purpose in a changing economy.

Finally, we must place monitoring, evaluation and learning at the centre of everything we do.

Too often programmes focus on inputs rather than outcomes.

The Presidential Youth Employment Initiative must continue building a culture of evidence-based decision-making. We must know what works, what does not work, and where resources can have the greatest impact.

Rather than creating parallel systems, there may be opportunities for closer collaboration with YES to strengthen monitoring and evaluation across the broader ecosystem.

Programme Director,

The future of youth employment in South Africa will not be secured by government alone. Nor will it be secured by business alone.

It will require a genuine partnership between government, the private sector, organised labour, civil society and young people themselves.

The success of YES demonstrates what is possible when we align incentives, focus on measurable outcomes and work together towards a common objective.

As we approach the second half of this decade, our task is clear: to move from isolated successes to systemic impact; from programmes to pathways; and from opportunity for some to opportunity for all.

I look forward to continuing our partnership as we build an economy that creates work, dignity and hope for South Africa’s young people.

I thank you.

Source: President of South Africa –

Programme Director;

Premier of Limpopo Province, Dr Phophi  Ramathuba, and other members of the Provincial Executive Council who are here today;

Deputy Chairperson of the National House of Traditional and Khoi-San Leaders, Nkosi Langa Mavuso;

Hosi Pheni Cyprian Ngove, Chairperson of the Limpopo Provincial House of Traditional and Khoi-San Leaders;

Ministers, Deputy Ministers, MECs, Mayors;

Royal Highnesses, Traditional and Khoisan Leaders,

Directors-General, Heads of Department and all Senior Officials present,

Dumelang, Lotshani, Ndi Matsheloni!!

We gather here today, at a difficult time, when the institution of Traditional and Khoi-San Leadership and the nation are mourning the passing of His Majesty King Makhosonke II of the AmaNdebele Kingship. On behalf of the Government of South Africa, I would like to extend our heartfelt condolences to the AmaNdebele nation, Her Majesty Queen Mabhena, royal families, and the institution of Traditional Leadership as a whole.

King Mabhena was dedicated to the empowerment of rural communities and strengthening relationships between Government and Traditional Leadership. He championed cultural preservation through annual events fostering social cohesion and nation-building. His Majesty’s efforts led to the creation of the Forum of Majesties in South Africa, where he served as Chairperson until his departure. His legacy in community development will be remembered, and the Government expresses condolences to the royal families and the AmaNdebele nation during this time of mourning.

Distinguished Traditional Leaders

A few weeks ago, I wrote a letter to the Honourable Premier, advising her about my intention to engage with Traditional Leaders in Limpopo. This is part of the work my office is embarking on to address matters affecting Traditional Leadership.

I would like to extend our heartfelt gratitude to you, Premier, for the warmth with which you have welcomed us into your province and for hosting this critical engagement with our Traditional Leaders.

To you, our revered diKgosi le di Kgosikgadi, we bow in respect. Your presence, drawn from the wisdom of the ancestors and the strength of our people, gives weight to this dialogue. In taking time from your many responsibilities, you affirm that the voice of Traditional Leadership remains a guiding star in the journey of our nation. We are humbled, for in your participation we see the living heritage that continues to shape our destiny.

Our presence today is not only to listen, for you have already spoken with clarity about the concerns that must be fulfilled. But addressing these important concerns will enable you to fully serve as cultural custodians, social leaders, and intermediaries for community development.

As we work towards addressing remaining or rising concerns, it is also important that we acknowledge the progress already made throughout the country, including in this province of Limpopo.

For a start, the Traditional and Khoi-San Leadership Bill of 2026 has now been tabled in Parliament, with the Department of Traditional Affairs briefing committees and preparing for public participation. This marks a decisive step towards strengthening the legislative foundation of traditional leadership, ensuring that your voices are enshrined in law and carried forward with dignity.

On the matter of tools of trade and institutional support, I have been informed that Limpopo has made commendable strides. Vehicles, office furniture, and security have been provided to senior Traditional Leaders and Royalties.

Grants have also been allocated to Traditional Councils, and induction workshops have been held for newly elected members, ensuring that Traditional Councils are capacitated to serve their communities. The construction and refurbishment of Traditional Council offices across districts further demonstrates the seriousness with which this province treats the institution of Traditional Leadership.

We also note the Handbook for Traditional and Khoi-San Leadership, adopted by MINMEC in 2025, which awaits full concurrence by all provinces. Limpopo has already begun implementing its provisions, providing tools of trade and administrative support. This progress must inspire other provinces to follow suit so that the handbook becomes a national standard of dignity and empowerment.

On the sensitive matter of disputes, Limpopo has established investigative committees and continues to process recognitions, document genealogies, and resolve succession matters. This is vital work, for it ensures that leadership is legitimate, respected, and rooted in custom.

The review of remuneration and benefits for Traditional Leaders is being advanced at the national level, with the Independent Commission for the Remuneration of Public Office Bearers expected to submit its recommendations to the President by the end of June 2026. This will bring long-awaited clarity and fairness to the support extended to traditional leaders.

Throughout the course of this day, you will hear in detail of the progress we have made, as these achievements will be presented comprehensively in the sessions ahead.

Distinguished Traditional Leaders, we must also acknowledge the challenges that remain before us. As I have mentioned, the Handbook for Traditional and Khoi-San Leadership is still pending full concurrence from all provinces, with Limpopo and Mpumalanga yet to finalise their costs. This delay has slowed the standardisation of tools of trade and support for Traditional Leaders.

We also recognise that disputes at various levels from headmanship to kingship continue to test the resilience of our communities, requiring careful resolution through investigative committees and the courts.

We are mindful of the vacancies in Traditional Councils, the need for more staff, and the financial pressures that weigh heavily on the institution of Traditional Leadership. We cannot overlook the fact that some Traditional Councils remain unconstituted due to disputes, litigation, or disruptions, leaving communities without fully recognised leadership.

These challenges are real, but I strongly believe that together we can find an amicable solution. It is for this reason that the National Government stands ready to collaborate with the Limpopo Provincial Government. Together, we will ensure that the Handbook is finalised and implemented, that disputes are resolved with fairness and legitimacy, and that tools of trade and financial support are extended equitably.

Distinguished Traditional Leaders, you will agree with me that beyond the institutional matters, we must speak directly to the needs of our people and the daily challenges faced in rural communities.

I am convinced that addressing ordinary people’s challenges creates a profound sense of purpose that resonates deeply with ancestral wisdom. By tackling daily hardships, we actively embody Ubuntu—the African philosophy that our humanity is inextricably linked to.

As custodians of heritage and moral authority, you must mobilise communal structures to strengthen crime prevention, mediate disputes, and reinforce accountability where formal policing is thin.

In addressing teenage pregnancy, you have to be at the forefront of promoting values of responsibility and partner with clinics and schools to ensure young people receive both cultural and modern education.

As stewards of communal land, you can tackle unemployment and poverty by facilitating cooperatives, encouraging youth entrepreneurship, and ensuring fair distribution of social support.

Regarding alcohol and drug abuse, you can use cultural rituals and communal authority to discourage destructive habits, reclaim spaces from illicit trade, and restore dignity to affected families.

Recently, we have also witnessed that Limpopo is one of South Africa’s most vulnerable provinces to climate change, heavily impacted by rising temperatures, shifting rain patterns, and extreme weather events. In the face of climate vulnerabilities, as Traditional Leaders, avenues exist for you to preserve indigenous knowledge of land and weather, blending it with modern climate-smart practices to build resilience.

Most importantly, as initiation season approaches, it is essential that we remain vigilant to safeguard the lives and dignity of our young initiates. While this tradition carries profound cultural significance, the growing presence of illegal initiation schools and unqualified practitioners poses serious dangers.

These unlawful operations often disregard basic safety and health standards, exposing initiates to unhygienic conditions, malnutrition, physical abuse, and the absence of medical care risks that can turn a sacred rite of passage into a life-threatening ordeal. In other words, it is our responsibility to ensure that initiates go into the mountain alive and return home alive.

We will work side by side to strengthen the customary initiation framework, safeguard the wellbeing of initiates, and uphold the dignity of our traditions.

We commend that the development of regulations under both the Traditional and Khoi-San Leadership Act and the Customary Initiation Act is underway. Limpopo has already demonstrated readiness. The Provincial Initiation Coordinating Committee has been established, applications adjudicated, and safe initiation practices prepared for the 2026 winter season. This is a model of proactive governance, balancing heritage with the wellbeing of our youth.

Distinguished leaders, let me reiterate that you carry a responsibility that extends beyond culture and tradition. You are also the voice that can inspire our people to participate fully in the democratic life of our nation.

Ladies and Gentlemen,

On November 4th, South Africa will conduct its Local Government Elections, which serve as a crucial opportunity not just to select Councillors but also to influence the future of service delivery, accountability, and development in local communities. It is essential to encourage young people to participate actively in the electoral process to ensure their voices are represented through their votes.

Another area of responsibility that you as Traditional Leaders can assist the government with is the Comprehensive Approach for Migration Management aimed at strengthening border security, enforcing immigration laws, tackling corruption and closing policy loopholes as part of a broader effort to address illegal immigration in South Africa. Illegal immigration, if left unchecked, threatens not only the security of our borders but also the stability of our communities.

It is therefore imperative that we work together to ensure that migration is managed in a way that is lawful, humane, and just.

As we pursue growth, it is crucial to ensure that our decisions are effective and that the concerns of various Traditional Leaders are addressed fairly and equitably.

This engagement offers an opportunity to engage in open communication, mutual respect, and a willingness to listen. This opportunity is offered to either side, that is, the Government and Traditional Leadership. 

Today, we should collaborate and engage as partners rather than adversaries to unite our country and its people, regardless of the challenges that still persist.

Let me allow the Premier and her team to further provide in detail what the province is doing to support and address your concerns.

I Thank You, Inkomu.