Breaking the barriers to youth employment
South Africa’s youth unemployment crisis requires a comprehensive, multi-sectoral approach that combines digital infrastructure to support education, psychosocial support and fundamental shifts in employer attitudes.
South Africa’s youth unemployment crisis requires a comprehensive, multi-sectoral approach that combines digital infrastructure to support education, psychosocial support and fundamental shifts in employer attitudes. “While there are many pressing challenges in South Africa today, the need to invest in our youth remains a very high priority,” Telkom Group Chief of Corporate Affairs Mpho McNamee told delegates attending the Trialogue Business in Society Conference 2025.
The conference was held on 13 and 14 May at The Galleria in Sandton, Johannesburg, under the theme ‘Driving impact, Inspiring change’. McNamee delivered the opening address for a panel discussion entitled ‘From classroom to career: Unlocking opportunities for South Africa’s youth’. In her opening remarks to the Telkom-sponsored session, she noted with concern that more than half of young South Africans between the ages of 15 and 34 are not economically active. “This is not just a statistic. It’s a crisis that impacts families, communities and our nation’s future.”
The panel featured Judy Vilakazi (the head of the Telkom Foundation); Dumisile Nala (Childline Chief Executive Officer); Zengeziwe Msimang (Harambee Youth Employment Accelerator Chief Communications Officer); and Kabelo Mthenjane, a Telkom beneficiary who is employed as an intern in the financial accounting department.Telkom has positioned digital connectivity as a critical enabler for youth development, moving beyond basic internet access to create comprehensive pathways to opportunity.
As part of its corporate social investment (CSI) strategy, the company has invested in information and communication technology (ICT) labs reaching over 10 000 South African learners in the past two years and trained around 2 000 teachers to integrate technology into classroom learning. “We believe that providing connectivity is about more than internet access.
It’s about connecting young people to opportunities, starting with education and skills development,” explained Vilakazi. “We believe combining technology with education is an equaliser.” Telkom’s zero-rated platform provides access to supplementary science, technology, engineering and mathematics education, live classes, past papers and tutoring services, removing data costs as a barrier to educational advancement.
This approach directly addresses the digital divide that prevents many young people from accessing online learning opportunities. More than 1 600 young people have participated in Telkom’s training programmes, learning coding, data analytics, and problem-solving skills through practical, real-world placements that prepare them for the digital economy. Telkom beneficiary Kabelo Mthenjane, who exemplifies the potential of integrated support systems told audiences his story of how Telkom’s interventions at different stages of his journey helped to guide his way.
The donation of ICT infrastructure to his school and access to additional learning platforms led to career guidance, tertiary education application support and comprehensive funding that helped him through his studies. Now a Telkom intern, he is gaining essential skills and work experience on the job.
Where each moment of challenge might have resulted in lost opportunity and Mthenjane falling through the cracks as so many young South Africans do, these interventions have enabled a narrative of success that has advanced his education and career opportunities.
READ MORE: https://trialogueknowledgehub.co.za/breaking-the-barriers-to-youth-employment/
The conference was held on 13 and 14 May at The Galleria in Sandton, Johannesburg, under the theme ‘Driving impact, Inspiring change’. McNamee delivered the opening address for a panel discussion entitled ‘From classroom to career: Unlocking opportunities for South Africa’s youth’. In her opening remarks to the Telkom-sponsored session, she noted with concern that more than half of young South Africans between the ages of 15 and 34 are not economically active. “This is not just a statistic. It’s a crisis that impacts families, communities and our nation’s future.”
Digital infrastructure as the foundation for opportunity
The panel featured Judy Vilakazi (the head of the Telkom Foundation); Dumisile Nala (Childline Chief Executive Officer); Zengeziwe Msimang (Harambee Youth Employment Accelerator Chief Communications Officer); and Kabelo Mthenjane, a Telkom beneficiary who is employed as an intern in the financial accounting department.Telkom has positioned digital connectivity as a critical enabler for youth development, moving beyond basic internet access to create comprehensive pathways to opportunity.
As part of its corporate social investment (CSI) strategy, the company has invested in information and communication technology (ICT) labs reaching over 10 000 South African learners in the past two years and trained around 2 000 teachers to integrate technology into classroom learning. “We believe that providing connectivity is about more than internet access.
It’s about connecting young people to opportunities, starting with education and skills development,” explained Vilakazi. “We believe combining technology with education is an equaliser.” Telkom’s zero-rated platform provides access to supplementary science, technology, engineering and mathematics education, live classes, past papers and tutoring services, removing data costs as a barrier to educational advancement.
This approach directly addresses the digital divide that prevents many young people from accessing online learning opportunities. More than 1 600 young people have participated in Telkom’s training programmes, learning coding, data analytics, and problem-solving skills through practical, real-world placements that prepare them for the digital economy. Telkom beneficiary Kabelo Mthenjane, who exemplifies the potential of integrated support systems told audiences his story of how Telkom’s interventions at different stages of his journey helped to guide his way.
The donation of ICT infrastructure to his school and access to additional learning platforms led to career guidance, tertiary education application support and comprehensive funding that helped him through his studies. Now a Telkom intern, he is gaining essential skills and work experience on the job.
Where each moment of challenge might have resulted in lost opportunity and Mthenjane falling through the cracks as so many young South Africans do, these interventions have enabled a narrative of success that has advanced his education and career opportunities.
READ MORE: https://trialogueknowledgehub.co.za/breaking-the-barriers-to-youth-employment/
