Manamela challenges employers to turn youth training into jobs

Higher Education and Training Minister Buti Manamela has urged employers to play a more significant role in turning skills training into employment opportunities for young people. Speaking in Katlehong, Gauteng, Manamela highlighted the importance of giving young individuals a chance to gain hands-on experience and secure an income.

He announced a three-year partnership between Services SETA, a skills development organization, and e-commerce giant Takealot. Services SETA has pledged R103 million to this initiative, which aims to train 20 000 young people in e-commerce and digital economy fields such as personal shopping, driver development, marketplace selling, and workplace learning.

Manamela emphasized that training institutions alone cannot produce the skills industry demands without employers actively participating in the process. He encouraged industry to collaborate with government and training institutions to develop skills that directly meet workplace requirements. The minister challenged employers to actively engage with young people, inviting them to "come and work with us" to produce the skills needed by their respective industries.

The partnership between Services SETA and Takealot aims to provide young people with multiple avenues to earn a living, rather than confining them to conventional employment. Manamela stressed that the success of the programme should be measured by the achievements of the participants beyond simply acquiring individual skills. He noted that the e-commerce platform could enable participants to become entrepreneurs, bridge the gap between customers and goods, and contribute to the economy beyond being mere employees of a single company.

Lehlogonolo Masoga, the administrator of Services SETA, explained that the partnership was designed to connect skills development with employment creation. The three-year initiative will combine training with employment opportunities, and Services SETA will monitor its impact on participants' lives and prospects, treating the program as a pilot that could be expanded if it yields positive results.

Takealot Group CEO Frederik Zietsman emphasized that the platform economy offers young South Africans opportunities in various areas, including personal shopping, independent driving, township-based selling, and workplace learning for college students. He reiterated that every young South African should have a clear path from education and training to earning an income.