Programme directors: Dr Veve Dladla @ Felix Hlophe

MUT Chancellor/ AmaZulu FC President: Mr Sandile Zungu

Zungu family present

Mayor of eThekwini Metro: Cllr Cyril Xaba

INkosi ye sizwe: INkosi BW Zungu Inkosi yesizwe: INkosi NZ Buthelezi All Amakhosi and izinduna present

Tshana community development Agency: Dr Mpilo Zungu

Hamashe Business group: Ms Nomsa Zungu KwaZulu Natal Athletics : Mr Celi Makhoba All members of the media

Distinguished guests, Ladies and Gentlemen Sanibonani!

In South Africa given the high levels of unemployment amongst youth, it is especially pleasing to see so many amongst the audience that have taken the time to develop themselves by furthering their education and development. There is a lot that Government is doing to try and address the development of young people- this is provided for across education, skills development, employment, and entrepreneurship programs that are provided by the various government Departments—anchored by SETA learnerships, the Presidential Youth Employment Intervention (PYEI), and new government–business funding drives. In Kwa Zulu Natal for the period April 26 to June 2026, more than 48000 people registered on the Departments ESSA system. ESSA is a free service offered to assist all workers to connect to employment opportunities. Services are offered in all parts of country and particularly in Kwa Zulu Natal, there are Labour centres within reach of all those that need assistance.

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More than 13300 work seekers were provided with employment counselling sessions and advice to help them navigate their journey to finding work and earning opportunities. Employers have registered in Kwa Zulu Natal more than 11000 vacancies, into which the Del has place more than 2500, as at the end of June. I encourage you to register on the ESSA system where you can search for opportunities that are available, free of charge…visit the Del website.

We all know that there is a massive shift in the labour market, due to geo-politics and the rapid advancement in technology and the growth of Artificial intelligence. This is a very critical aspect, of ensuring that we improve the labour market absorption rate which as of Quarter 1 2026, stood at 40.3%, which means that only about 4 in 10 working-age South Africans are employed. This indicates the labour market and the education system needs to be tweaked to ensure that learners are prepared for the demands of what I, call the new labour market, which is characterised by the rapid growth of artificial intelligence (AI) and the growth of the platform economy that is radically demanding new skills and qualifications. Whilst most typical job types are disappearing or being modified many new opportunities are being created which leaners need to be alive to be able to progress learning towards meaningful careers.

I refer to rise in the need for green technologies, drone technologies, installation repair and maintenance of solar systems, demand for services like food preparation dining, hair dressing, care industry, nurses, and all forms of artisans and technicians.

The education system needs to align teaching to transferable competencies, that employers need. Learners need to also understand the power of self-employment and must trend towards skills that can enable them to work for themselves.

Education institutions that are not aligning to industry demands through curriculum reform and adaptation are not providing any value to learners, and perpetuate growing skills mismatches. The Sector Education and Training Authorities (SETAs), must become more active in signalling the emerging skills gaps, to schools and institutions of higher learning. soft skills are now seen as equally critical as technical expertise in securing jobs and launching self-employment.

Having graduates that hold formal qualifications but lack practical, industry-relevant skills, is also unhelpful. This calls for the need for more practical education to employment pathways, and I encourage all graduates to be pro-active in accessing whatever work opportunity or self-employment opportunity there is, including voluntary offering your services, as a pathway to earning.

We all know that youth particularly those in poorer communities, face a number of barriers to entry to the labour market, amongst these barriers are the costs of job search, transport costs, high data costs to access the internet. Local communities need to engage with the local transport providers to make transport more accessible, telecom providers need to zero rate access for job search, many have already done this.

Government also provides a number of incentives for employers to scale up these include, Tax credits & rebates through the Employment Tax Incentive (ETI), Wage subsidies for certain local Governments, SETAs provide stipends for learners, Skills Development Levy rebates for employers, etc.

Community colleges also offer services to those that wish to improve the education and upgrade skills.

One of the greatest thinks that you do, when you educate yourself is that you build social capital, you make yourself more capable of taking own the world, when you take charge and build your own resilience that world values you more-I congratulate each and every one of you for taking that step.

There are various sectors in South Africa that are showing huge growth potential, I urge you to move beyond that traditional employment roles and take up opportunities in the emerging sectors, this includes all service-related industries, agriculture, the green economy, business process outsourcing, drone technologies, artificial intelligence, tourism, personal grooming hair and beauty, technicians, install repair and maintain businesses.

Government will soon be passing legislation to reserve entry level jobs for South Africans only, are you ready to take up these opportunities.

I once again congratulate you and wish you everything of the best in Making South Africa great.​

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