As the country celebrates Youth Day on Wednesday, President Cyril Ramaphosa has acknowledged that the struggles of South Africa’s youth are many.
In his weekly letter to the nation, Ramaphosa says the greatest struggle young people wage is against unemployment, worsened under the COVID-19 pandemic.
He says creating more opportunities and supporting young people to access these is government’s foremost priority.
President Ramaphosa has expressed concern about the diminishing awareness of the events of June 16, 45 years ago amongst the so-called Generation Z born after 1997.
He says society has a collective responsibility to ensure the message of that day and the sacrifices of the 1976 generation are not lost.
Ramaphosa says tackling youth unemployment requires accelerating economic growth, particularly in labour-intensive sectors, and building the capability of the state to fulfil its developmental role.
He says government will this week launch a range of additional measures to create opportunities for the youth.
South Africa’s unemployment rate hits new all-time high:
