Youth unemployment a ‘Moral Emergency’ - Mashatile
Deputy President Paul Mashatile said youth unemployment in South Africa is not just economic - it's a moral emergency.
"The reality is that many young people in South Africa are not living the future they hoped for."
"They are confronted by high levels of unemployment, inequality, and a lack of access to opportunities, especially in the digital world. As Government, we acknowledge that, for these young people, their reality remains untenable, undesirable, and unsustainable."
Mashatile delivered the keynote address at the 2025 National Youth Day commemoration in the North West Province.
We're marking 49 years since the Soweto uprisings that saw students rise up against the apartheid government. Many, including Hector Pieterson, lost their lives.
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Mashatile paid tribute to the students who stood strong against the regime and said they fought for a dream saying many of today's young people are not living their dreams.
"The latest data from the Quarterly Labour Force Survey shows that more than half of young people aged between 18 and 34 are unemployed.
"This is one of the highest levels we have ever seen, and it is of grave concern. Even our graduates are struggling, with nearly 1 in 4 graduates (23.9%) struggling to gain employment," he said.
He says it affects our whole society and demands urgent action from all sectors - government, business, and communities at large.
