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South Africa has entered a decisive “year of action” for its youth, as government calls on young people, institutions, and society at large to unite under a bold national programme aimed at reshaping the country’s future.

Delivering a keynote address at the Media launch of the Golden Jubilee commemoration of the 1976 youth uprising, held in Soweto, on Thursday, Minister in the Presidency responsible for Women, Youth and Persons with Disabilities (DWYPD) declared 2026 a turning point, anchored in the theme “RESET@50 – The Future Calls.”

The Minister said that just as young people organised in May 1976 toward a day of action, today’s generation must organise toward a year of national action.

“This is not just a campaign. It is a call to action: to remember truthfully, not through selective memory, but the full truth of pain, courage, betrayal, resilience and sacrifice,” the Minister said.

Democracy’s gains for young people

The Minister highlighted the significant strides made since 1994, when young South Africans first entered a system promising political freedom, equal citizenship and a renewed social contract.

The adoption of the Constitution in 1996, now marking its 30th anniversary, entrenched rights to dignity, equality and freedom, laying a foundation for expanded opportunities.

Chikunga noted that since then, the government has expanded access to education, student funding, youth development institutions, public participation platforms, skills development and employment pathways.

“Through generations of student activism and progressive deliberate policy choices of the democratic state, enrolment in the public university sector grew from 495 356 students in 1994 to 1 077 768 students in 2022. By 2025, public universities were projected to enrol over 1.15 million students, while TVET (Technical and Vocational Education and Training) colleges were projected to enrol over 587 000 students,” Chikunga said.

The Minister attributed sustained student activism, particularly the #FeesMustFall movement between 2015 and 2017, for accelerating progress toward accessible higher education.

She highlighted that through the National Student Financial Aid Scheme (NSFAS), nearly 3.9 million students benefited from R192 billion in funding between 2019 and 2023.

Government has also strengthened institutional support for youth development. 

The National Youth Development Agency (NYDA), established through legislation in 2008 and recently amended in 2024, continues to play a central coordinating role.

In this financial year, government has allocated R1.8 billion to the NYDA to expand entrepreneurship, employment pathways and skills development, including support for youth-owned enterprises.

The Presidential Youth Employment Intervention has created a large-scale platform linking young people to opportunities, with more than 4.78 million young people registered on the National Pathway Management Network, and over 1.67 million earning opportunities secured by 2025.

The basic education sector has also contributed, with over 320 000 young people gaining work opportunities in approximately 23 000 public schools during the first phase of the Presidential Youth Employment Initiative.

“These gains matter. They show that democracy has created institutions, opened doors, and placed resources behind youth development. But the next phase must be measured by completion, transition, absorption, ownership and dignity,” Chikunga said.

Despite these achievements, the Minister cautioned that access alone is no longer enough. The next phase, she said, must focus on outcomes: completion of education, transition into work, economic participation, and dignity.

The Minister said the RESET@50 initiative calls for closer collaboration between higher education institutions, Sector Education and Training Authorities (SETAs), and industry.

She said universities and TVET colleges must work with industry to co-create curricula with employers to ensure graduates are equipped for real economic opportunities.

“To the private sector and strategic institutions, your presence must translate into concrete commitments [including] jobs and work experience, support for youth-owned enterprises, and investment in future skills.

Social, political and economic transformation

The Minister emphasised that RESET@50 is not only an economic intervention, but a broader societal transformation.

She said that a social reset is needed to rebuild cohesion and address challenges such as Gender-Based Violence and Femicide (GBVF), substance abuse, harmful masculinities, mental health challenges, racism, sexism, ableism, and social fragmentation.

A political reset must strengthen accountability and responsiveness, ensuring that the state listens, implements, and accounts to young people and society at large, while an economic reset must move young people from participation to ownership, and from access to real pathways.

“It must prepare young people for an economy already shaped by artificial intelligence, data, cybersecurity, digital platforms, e-commerce, green technologies, advanced manufacturing and new forms of work. We cannot allow the digital economy to become a new geography of exclusion,” the Minister said. – SAnews.gov.za
 

As the country marks 50 years since the 1976 youth uprising, South African youth have adopted a renewed national pledge under the banner of “RESET@50 – The Future Calls,” committing themselves to action, unity and transformation.

The Youth Pledge, unveiled during the media launch of the Golden Jubilee commemoration of the 1976 youth uprising, on Thursday, positions young people not only as heirs to a legacy of struggle, but as active drivers of South Africa’s future.

The pledge opens by honouring the generation of 1976, whose courage and sacrifice helped secure the freedoms enjoyed today.

“We gather to honour the courageous youth of 1976 — a generation whose sacrifice shaped our nation and secured the right to learn, to dream, and to participate fully in a democratic South Africa,” the pledge reads.

Central to the pledge is a call for today’s generation to move beyond remembrance and take responsibility for shaping the present and future. It emphasises building a country anchored in dignity, justice, opportunity and inclusion.

Young people commit to improving the quality of life for all citizens and unlocking the potential of every individual, while acknowledging that the freedoms gained through democracy must be actively advanced.

Drawing inspiration from the spirit of the 1976 uprising, the pledge outlines a shared national purpose to foster learning and innovation, uphold compassion and integrity, and promote patriotism and nation-building.

It reflects a generation determined to contribute meaningfully to society, while strengthening social cohesion and collective responsibility.

Expanding access and opportunities

A key focus of the pledge is the expansion of access to education, skills development, culture and economic participation.

READ | Education is key to fixing South Africa’s future: Lesufi

It recognises that while democracy has opened doors, significant inequalities remain, particularly for young people from poor and working-class backgrounds, those in rural communities, and young women and persons with disabilities.

The pledge calls for:
•    Equal access to quality education from early childhood through higher education.
•    Stronger support for youth-owned enterprises and economic participation.
•    Bridging the gap between education and employment.
•    Ensuring that no young person is excluded from opportunities due to financial or social barriers.
It also highlights the need to address the growing number of young people not in employment, education or training, stressing that access must translate into meaningful outcomes.

READ | Youth face growing burden of unemployment and inequality

A call to future generations

Under the theme: “The Future Calls,” the pledge commits to opening pathways for generations to come by investing in knowledge, skills and innovation.

It frames youth development as an intergenerational responsibility, ensuring that progress made today creates lasting opportunities for tomorrow.

In a unifying conclusion, the pledge affirms a collective vision rooted in equality, dignity and freedom.

“Freedom lives in every generation,” it declares, reinforcing the idea that each generation must actively defend and deepen the gains of democracy. – SAnews.gov.za
 

The Special Investigating Unit (SIU) has secured a preservation order freezing two properties after an investigation uncovered that millions in National Lotteries Commission (NLC) funds intended for a KwaZulu-Natal (KZN) agricultural project were instead diverted for personal gain.

The preservation order, granted by the Special Tribunal, targets properties in The Orchards and Soshanguve in Tshwane, both linked to the Malusi We Sizwe Non-Profit Company (NPC).

The company received R13 million from the NLC in November 2018 for an agricultural project in the Zululand District Municipality.

That project was supposed to support nearly 1 900 people, including unemployed youth and the elderly.

“The preservation orders follow an SIU investigation, which revealed that on 14 September 2018, former NLC Grant Manager Marubini Ramatsekisa submitted an internal proposal for ‘proactive funding’ for the project, which was approved on the same day by former NLC Chief Operating Officer Philemon Letwaba.

“On 3 October 2018, Malusi We Sizwe NPC applied for funding of R14 976 796. At the time, Sinqobile Khumalo, Margaret Sithole, and Lawrence Malungwa were listed as directors of the organisation.

“The NLC Adjudication Committee approved R13 million for the project on 1 November 2018. Shortly after the grant approval and the signing of the grant agreement, Nelisiwe Mahlangu was appointed as a director of the NPC on 26 November 2018, while the existing directors resigned on the same day,” the SIU explained in a statement.

The first tranche of R7 million was paid by the NLC in December 2018 followed by a second tranche of R6 million in March the following year.

“Before receiving the NLC funding, the NPC had only R100 in its bank account,” the corruption busting unit noted.

The SIU also uncovered that monies began to flow from the NPC account to various entities and transactions linked to the acquisition of immovable properties.

These include:

• The purchase of a property in Soshanguve, Pretoria, by Mahlangu on 9 April 2019 for R345 000.
• Transfers totalling R5.6 million from Malusi We Sizwe NPC to Trizaflo (Pty) Ltd, owned by Wisane Mabundza, between March and November 2019.
• Trizaflo made a transfer of R2 118 338 to attorneys for the purchase of property in Midstream Estate, Pretoria. The property was registered in the name of Alfred Sigudhla on 9 December 2019. The SIU obtained a preservation order of this property in April 2025.
• The purchase and transfer of another property in The Orchards, Hartbeeshoek, Gauteng, into Mahlangu’s name on 1 October 2020.

“The investigation by the SIU showed that the properties in Soshanguve and The Orchards were purchased for Mahlangu’s benefit using NLC funds, rather than for an agricultural project in KwaZulu-Natal.

“The orders are intended to prevent the sale or disposal of the properties pending the finalisation of civil proceedings aimed at recovering misappropriated funds,” the SIU said. – SAnews.gov.za

President Cyril Ramaphosa has, in terms of section 91(2) of the Constitution of the Republic of South Africa, 1996, has removed Minister of Social Development, Sisisi Tolashe, from her position. 

Section 91(2) of the Constitution empowers the President to appoint and dismiss members of the Cabinet at his/ her discretion.

In a brief statement issued on Thursday, the Presidency confirmed the immediate dismissal and announced an interim appointment to ensure continuity in the department’s operations.

President Ramaphosa appointed Sindisiwe Chikunga to serve as acting Minister of Social Development with immediate effect, while a permanent appointment is expected to be made in due course. 

“In the interim, President Ramaphosa has appointed Minister in the Presidency for Women, Youth and Persons with Disabilities Sindisiwe Chikunga as the acting minister in the portfolio pending a full-time appointment in due course,” the Presidency said. 

The change takes place with immediate effect . – SAnews.gov.za

The National Youth Development Agency (NYDA) says the struggle facing South Africa’s youth today is no longer confined to the classroom, but defined by unemployment, poverty, inequality and exclusion from economic participation.

Speaking at the Media launch of the 50th anniversary of the 1976 youth uprising, in Soweto, NYDA Chairperson, Dr Sunshine Myende drew a direct line between the historic fight against apartheid education and the modern-day battle for economic freedom.

“For many of us as young people today, the struggle is against unemployment. The struggle today is against poverty. The struggle today is against inequality. The struggle today is against exclusion from economic participation,” Myende said on Thursday.

She added that young people, particularly women, also face the persistent threat of Gender-Based Violence and Femicide (GBVF), describing it as a critical part of the broader struggle for dignity and equality.

The address formed part of the national programme marking the 50th anniversary of the Soweto Uprising, under the theme: “The Year of Youth Power – The Future is in Our Hands.”

Confronting the unfinished business of past generations

Myende said the commemoration was not only about remembrance, but about confronting the unfinished business of past generations.

Quoting anti-apartheid leader Oliver Tambo, she reminded the attendees that nations are often left with a stark choice “to submit or to fight”, a choice that defined the courage of the youth of 1976.

“We gather not only to remember them, but to honour the unfinished responsibility they handed to us,” she said.

While the context of struggle has changed, the chairperson stressed that the determination of young people to shape the country’s future remains constant. She called for tangible progress.

“We are tired of speeches. We are tired of being called together. We now want action,” Myende said.

Central to Myende’s call was the urgent need to address youth unemployment, which she described as a national crisis requiring extraordinary intervention.

Referring to the latest labour statistics, she said unemployment figures represent real lives and daily hardship for millions of young South Africans.

“These are young people who wake up every day without knowing what they are going to eat or how they will find opportunities,” she said.

She called on President Cyril Ramaphosa to declare youth unemployment a national disaster, arguing that such a move would unlock urgent and coordinated responses across government and the private sector.

The NYDA, she said, is already working with departments, such as the Department of Public Service and Administration, to utilise a national database of unemployed graduates, a group she described as a “ticking time bomb” for the country.

“It is painful to see graduates celebrating today, while tomorrow they face uncertainty about their future,” she said.

The chairperson emphasised that solving youth unemployment cannot rest on government alone, calling on the private sector to play a more active role in creating opportunities and integrating young people into the economy.

“Young people must not be spectators in the economy, but active participants in shaping it,” she said.

She warned that if young people are excluded from decision-making spaces, they will challenge and redefine those spaces.

“If we are not given a seat at the table, we will disrupt the table and redefine it,” she said.

Highlighting the NYDA’s interventions, Myende pointed to grant programmes and enterprise development initiatives aimed at supporting youth entrepreneurship. 

These initiatives, she said, are already enabling young people to start businesses, create jobs and contribute to local economies.

“These grants are an investment in inclusion, economic participation and social stability,” she said.

The chairperson also raised concern over the cycle of short-term internships that fail to translate into long-term employment.

“Young people are tired of 12 or 24-month internships with no future beyond that,” she said.

Despite the challenges, she reaffirmed the commitment of young people to building the nation and fulfilling the legacy of those who fought before them.

“We are not just future leaders, we are the current and future leaders of this country,” Myende said.

She concluded with a call for collective action, urging government, business, and society to invest meaningfully in young people.

“The future is not something that is waiting for us. It is already calling us. Our responsibility is to ensure we are equipped to answer that call.” – SAnews.gov.za
 

Deputy Minister of Higher Education and Training, Dr Mimmy Gondwe, has called on out-of-school youth and adults, especially those in rural and marginalised communities, to enrol at Community Education and Training (CET) colleges to improve literacy and education skills.

Gondwe made the call during the launch of the National Adult Literacy for Empowerment Campaign 2026–2030 at Lovedale TVET College in King William’s Town in the Eastern Cape on Tuesday.

The campaign, themed “Empowering Communities through Literacy for Inclusive Development”, is led by the Department of Higher Education and Training in partnership with the Mining Qualifications Authority, W&R SETA, Services SETA, Old Mutual, the National House of Traditional and Khoi-San Leaders, and other strategic partners.

The initiative aims to address the challenge of approximately 3.8 million functionally illiterate adults in South Africa by empowering one million adult learners by 2030. 

The programme will focus particularly on rural, mining and marginalised communities in the Eastern Cape, KwaZulu-Natal, Limpopo and North West provinces.

The campaign will implement a literacy programme that includes basic literacy and numeracy in local languages, digital literacy, financial literacy, civic education and life skills, entrepreneurship literacy, and workplace literacy.

Gondwe said CET colleges are central to the success of the national campaign against illiteracy.

“CET colleges have long been overlooked, despite their potential as centres for lifelong learning and skills development. Many face challenges and continue to operate under difficult conditions. I believe a whole-of-society approach is needed to support these important community learning institutions,” said Gondwe.

The campaign is expected to reach nearly 8 000 learners across the four priority provinces during its 2026 pilot phase. – SAnews.gov.za

Getting education right is the cornerstone of building a stronger country and a thriving economy, Gauteng Premier Panyaza Lesufi has said.

Lesufi was speaking at the media launch of the Golden Jubilee commemoration of the 1976 youth uprising, held in Soweto, under the theme: “RESET@50 – The Future Calls”, with the slogan: “Our national commitment to the future, for freedom lives in every generation.”

In his address on Thursday, the Premier stressed that South Africa’s future depends on the quality, inclusivity, and relevance of its schooling system.

He argued that meaningful reform in education is already underway, with government taking bold steps to transform both teaching and learning in real time.

“We took a conscious decision to train teachers while they are still teaching in the classroom, and to change the curriculum while learning continues. Today, we have a curriculum that is accessible to everyone.”

Lesufi described the introduction of a revised curriculum as one of the most significant milestones in recent history, highlighting its focus on inclusivity and historical truth. He said the curriculum must reflect the country’s collective past and honour figures such as Nelson Mandela, while also recognising the broader struggles that shaped the nation.

“The history of South Africa is not a history of one group of people. All South Africans must participate in shaping that history.”

The Premier also emphasised the importance of unity within the education system, calling for an end to inequalities between schools and communities. He also stressed that all children, regardless of background, should learn together under the same standards and conditions.

“There must be no society where some children are privileged to be taught differently because of their circumstances. All teachers are trained from the same foundation, and all must serve every child equally.”

READ | Government to launch 50th anniversary of 1976 youth uprisings

He further called for full implementation of the Basic Education Laws Amendment (BELA) Act across all schools, alongside urgent improvements in infrastructure and access to resources. This includes ensuring connectivity, access to books, and integrating technology and innovation into classrooms.

“Our schools must evolve. Children must engage with books in ways that inspire them, but they must also be equipped with the technological tools that define the future,” he said.

Reflecting on the legacy of Youth Day (16 June), which commemorates the 1976 student uprisings, Lesufi said the anniversary should serve as a reminder of both progress made and challenges that remain.

While also acknowledging that the country still has a long road ahead, the Premier said citizens must be inspired by the vison of one South Africa that belongs to all, especially children.

He also raised concern about social challenges affecting young people, particularly the spread of drugs while also calling for a united effort from communities and law enforcement to combat the scourge, which threatens the future of the country’s youth.

“We cannot allow drugs to destroy our children. We must stand together and fight this scourge.”

Despite the challenges, the Premier expressed optimism about Gauteng’s role in driving youth development and economic growth. He said the province is committed to creating opportunities and ensuring that young people are equipped to succeed.

“This province is ready to prepare young people, to create opportunities, prosper, and our people will prosper with it.” he said. – SAnews.gov.za
 

The Free State Department of Health has won the Africa Tech: Public Sector Digital Innovator Award at the Africa Tech Week Awards 2026, held in Cape Town.

The award recognises public sector institutions that have successfully deployed and adopted digital solutions that improve service delivery and citizen experience.

According to the department, the accolade was awarded for the department’s deployment of the Electronic Medical Record (EMR) for Primary Health Care – a digital health solution providing that is “strengthening patient care, continuity of care, accountability, and operational efficiency across the province”.

“This award affirms the Free State Department of Health’s growing leadership in digital health innovation and its commitment to improving healthcare services for communities across the province.

“The Department will continue to scale and optimise the EMR to ensure continuity of care, better referral management, improved medication and records management, and strengthened accountability through timely, reliable data,” the department said.

Health MEC Monyatso Mahlatsi said the accolade is a clear signal that the province is “serious about taking health to a higher trajectory of performance outcomes”.

“By digitising primary healthcare, we are making care safer, faster and more accountable for every patient. We will intensify the rollout, strengthen data-driven decision-making, and ensure that digital innovation translates into real improvements at the point of care. Congratulations to our teams and partners for this continental recognition,” Mahlatsi said.

Head of Department Ernest Mohlahlo echoed those sentiments and ascribed the recognition to the team of health professionals working within the department.

“This recognition belongs to the clinicians, nurses, managers, ICT professionals, and support teams who turned vision into daily practice. The EMR is already reducing duplication, improving continuity across levels of care, and enhancing operational efficiency.

“Our next phase will deepen training, change management, connectivity, cybersecurity, and interoperability so that measurable improvements in access, quality, and patient experience are felt in every facility. We are committed to disciplined execution and transparent performance monitoring,” Mohlahlo said. – SAnews.gov.za