Johannesburg – Education, skills training, jobs, and financial support for small businesses will empower South Africa’s youth, says the Public Servants Association (PSA).
In its Youth Day message, the PSA urged the government to intensify efforts to create an environment in which every young person was empowered to contribute to South Africa’s development.
The government can do this by increasing access to quality education and skills training, encouraging job creation for young people, supporting small businesses, and ensuring access to finance.
Commenting on the present situation, the PSA said: “The government has profoundly failed young people, evidenced by alarming youth unemployment, a failing education system, and the catastrophic collapse of the NSFAS [National Student Financial Aid Scheme].
“Countless young South Africans have been left without access to education and the financial support to build their future.”
The union said the stark underrepresentation of youth in the public sector exacerbates a looming crisis, depriving the nation of fresh perspectives and innovations essential for progress.
The PSA urged the government to prioritise empowering and including young people by investing in educational initiatives and cultivating generations of informed, skilled citizens.
“It is imperative to implement robust policies that create meaningful employment opportunities, overhaul the education system, and ensure that young voices are heard,” the PSA said.
The union said the legacy of the youth of 1976 should be honoured by a recommitment to nurturing and empowering the youth as the next generation of leaders and empowered citizens.
“The nation has a responsibility to champion the youth’s aspirations and provide them with the support and opportunities they need to thrive,” the PSA said.
The PSA said it recognised the importance of youth participation in decision-making processes at all levels of society.
“Their voices must be heard, their perspectives valued, and their concerns addressed,” the union said.
“Through targeted programs, scholarships, and mentorship opportunities, the youth can be equipped with tools and knowledge necessary to navigate and positively influence the complexities of the modern world.”
The PSA said by fostering a culture of learning and innovation, an empowered youth sector would enrich lives, strengthen communities, and pave the path for sustainable development and economic empowerment.
The PSA said it supports learners through targeted interventions at secondary schools in which it distributes thousands of solar-powered lights.
The union said on this Youth Day it urges the government to renew its “commitment to youth empowerment and upliftment” through “tangible interventions”.
