Western Cape Government is doing all it can to help young people find jobs

Over the month of October, Premier Alan Winde has engaged with young people who have benefited from Western Cape Government-led job opportunity programmes. “I am always overjoyed when I meet young people who have grabbed the opportunities offered to them to upskill and develop themselves to become active economic citizens. This is the first step for these youths on a path to prosperity,” said the Premier.

The immense potential of our Western Cape’s youth must be optimised and harnessed, and programmes such as these help young people get the necessary leg-up that they need to join the economy.

During his visits he met Precious Catsha at the offices of Merchants Academy – a company that specialises in business process outsourcing (BPO) - where she was placed after graduating from the provincial government’s YearBeyond programme. Precious lamented how being unemployed is stressful but how her recent placement had changed her outlook. “I am now more hopeful about my future, especially with the work experience I am receiving here as a result of the YearBeyond programme,” she added.

Leveraging data and evidence to support the province’s youth, especially those at risk, the YearBeyond programme is an initiative between the Western Cape Government (WCG) and various civil society organisations. It aims to provide unemployed youth, between the ages of 18 and 25, with meaningful work experience, equipping them with valuable skills to further their future careers, and giving them that much-need entrance into the jobs market.

Since the initiative was officially launched in 2015, 8 327 young people have benefited from the programme.

He added, “I am so proud of all our YeBoneers. They are showing how despite their circumstances they are still able to forge ahead to make a success of their lives. Getting our youth into jobs is on of my top priorities.”

While the Western Cape’s unemployment rate is lower than other provinces at 20.9%, too many young people are still jobless. The WCG’s 2023 Provincial Economic Review Outlook reveals that South Africa’s youth bear the brunt of the unemployment crisis, soaring at 45.3 per cent nationally and 31.2 per cent in the Western Cape. Young people (15-34) form 51.1% of the working age population in the country and 43.5% of the labour force

In light of these troubling statistics, Premier added, “Harnessing the full potential of the youth lies in how prepared they are to contribute to our economy. We must, therefore, invest in them through interventions such as YearBeyond, the Chrysalis Academy and the Premier’s Council on Skills.”

While not unique to the Western Cape, the relatively lower labour force participation among young people is largely attributed to the high number of young people actively attending formal education.

During his visit to a YearBeyond Careers Fair in Cape Town, on Friday 12 October, the Premier was excited to see Cape Town City Hall packed with exhibitors and young people eager to find potential employees and employment opportunities. “We must keep enabling access to skills to ensure youths can develop themselves beyond entry-level roles,” Premier Winde said, adding, “In this room, there could be the future CEOs of some of our top companies, groundbreaking entrepreneurs and “disruptors” who will help transform our economy. They can teach us all a few things.”

Another programme available to young people in the province is the Chrysalis Academy. This is a leadership development organisation as well as a social crime prevention initiative.

Last week, Premier Winde met Chrysalis graduate Lozenzo Adams, who now works at a waterproofing installer in Somerset West. After graduating Lorenzo worked at the Academy. “I fell in love with what I did there,” he told the Premier. In late 2020 he then got a job at the Waterproofing Centre. He proudly told the Premier, “I can say I am one of those assets to this company.” His employer agreed, enthusing that Lorenzo is an amazing employee.

• Applications for the Chrysalis 24 ALPHA males’ course, opened on 16 October 2023 and will close on 17 November 2023. This is for the May 2024 intake.