NYDA director urges government to define 'decent work' in Budget 2026 youth employment strategy
- Youth unemployment remains a critical challenge with long-term consequences for South Africa's welfare state and pension sustainability, as fewer working people will need to support retirees.
- The Presidential Youth Employment Intervention has demonstrated success as a 'center of excellence' in transitioning young people to work or self-employment and should be expanded.
- Government's planned trillion-rand infrastructure investment presents an opportunity to coordinate youth employment and skills development through direct project participation.
“For me, that always sounds really dodgy because it's like, you know, it sounds like you're just filling a gap. You actually need to nurture someone so that they can actually grow and be productive to society.”