BRIEF:
The commemoration of Youth Month in South Africa, and particularly Youth Day on 16 June, pays tribute to the 1976 Soweto Uprisings. Youth day serves as a reminder of our nation’s young people who boldly protested against the imposition of Afrikaans as a medium of instruction. Their peaceful demonstration was met with brutal force from the authorities of the apartheid regime, resulting in the tragic loss of lives and thousands exiled.
The month of June has, since the dawn of democracy, been dedicated to honouring the contribution of young people in the liberation struggle. During this time, we reflect on the active role of South African youth in numerous political campaigns and protests as a response to the brutal apartheid regime, including its oppressive education system which treated black people as inferior.
The 2025 National Youth Day and Youth Month will be commemorated under the theme: “Skills for the changing world, empowering youth for meaningful economic participation.” This theme, supported by the tagline “Gear Up for Greatness” seeks to promote education and skills development for the youth, linking them with economic opportunities. The day will also address various challenges faced by young people in the country while taking stock of the progress made in advancing their empowerment.
KEY MESSAGES SUPPORTING STATEMENTS
The class of 1976 played a key role in our struggle – let’s preserve their legacy.
• Our youth were at the forefront of the fight against apartheid.
• The Class of 1976 exposed the brutality of the apartheid regime to the world and ignited resistance around the country.
• We call on young people to keep their legacy alive by taking advantage of opportunities to build our country and change their lives.
• In unlocking the potential of our youth, we can build an inclusive economy, create employment and transform our society.
• Young people are called to collectively work towards their economic emancipation, particularly in these challenging times.
• This generation must continue to work towards a society free from racial, social, economic and class barriers.
The 2025 Youth Month focuses on promoting youth skills and well-being of youth.
• The 2025 Youth Month will focus on promoting education and skills development for youth and link them with economic opportunities.
• We will use the month of June to highlight the available learning and job opportunities in industries with high absorption capacity such as ITC, creative industries, manufacturing, sports, agriculture, and hospitality.
• We will also be promoting programmes and initiatives that empower the youth to advance their participation in the economy.
• Throughout the month, we will be advocating for more youth inclusion in various skills-led economic codes.
• Throughout the month, we will work to build on partnerships with education, skills development, and employment institutions.
• We will also focus on elevating issues and solutions of physical and mental health faced by the youth.
Youth is critical in rebuilding and transforming our economy.
• Unlocking the potential of young people is essential in building an inclusive economy and creating employment.
• As the country marks 31 years of democracy, there is a need to reflect on the contribution of skills development and economic development in the country.
• Skills such as artisans, healthcare, physical, mathematical, engineering sciences and technology fields are in demand.
• We encourage young people to pursue some of these skills as they are required for building our economy.
• Government is working to introduce specialised short courses to address the mismatch between the existing educational, training and development programmes and the requirements of the economy.
• These include the Africa Skills Revolution initiative, which is a skills initiative that aims to unlock the potential of Africa’s youth through Technical and Vocational Education and Training.
• The initiative features business commitments to train underrepresented communities in areas such as Artificial Intelligence, design, user experience, networks, cybersecurity, and programming.
• It also identifies lighthouses, which are models of public-private collaborations that take innovative approaches to education and skills.
Government is improving its efforts and plans to advance opportunities for youth.
• The Presidential Youth Employment Intervention creates new pathways into employment for our young people.
• It ensures that the youth gain the right skills and can start their own businesses and get into good jobs.
• We have also opened employment opportunities through the Expanded Public Works Programme, Community Works Programme and the Harambee Youth Employment Accelerator.
• Our Youth Employment Service aims to create more paying internships mainly for young South Africans.
• Young people are urged to join our National Youth Service, which will enable them to become activists in the upliftment of the communities.
• On Youth Day, young entrepreneurs will gain valuable guidance and expertise to navigate challenges, while networking, sharing knowledge to foster collaboration.
• In helping to draw more young people into the economy, relevant government departments, private sector organisations, and SOEs will showcase job opportunities, entrepreneurship opportunities, and procurement opportunities available for the unemployed youth.
Government continues to provide financial and non-financial support to accelerate youth empowerment.
• In recent years, government has realised the increasing contribution of SMMEs in growing the economy.
• This sector is becoming a substantial force that contributes to the country’s GDP and young people should be at the forefront of the sector.
• These enterprises are employment generators and provide livelihoods to many young people.
• Government is investing in this sector through established initiatives which provide financial and non-financial support for the youth to venture into the sector.
• We are providing non-financial support, such as access to networking, business training, market information, and technology, which will help the SMMEs to improve operation of their business practices.
• Government aims to nurture and stimulate this sector to play a much stronger role in creating the much-needed jobs for young people.
South African youth have a unique opportunity to shape the world’s economic and social future through the G20 programme.
• As a G20 member, South Africa is committed to shaping a youth that is globally competitive, digitally skilled, and socially conscious and responsible.
• Youth Month 2025 provides a platform to localise the G20 development agenda for young people — especially focusing on sustainable development, climate action, and innovation-driven economies with the context of having a population that has a high number of young people.
• We call on South African youth to see themselves as both local change-makers and global leaders in business, academia, innovation, social justice, diplomacy, and environmental action.
• As the only African country in the G20, South African youth have the privilege and the responsibility to represent the continent’s’ youth.
• As the global South continues to rise, it’s vital that our young people take their place in global forums, mobilise themselves and influence their own narrative.