From higher-than-expected unemployment and a growing mental health crisis to outdated systems and digital inefficiencies in the government, the challenges South Africa faces are deeply linked to how we are, or are not, tapping into the capabilities of our youth.
The good news is that change is happening, and it’s being led by young South Africans.
June is a month that honours the legacy of the youth of 1976, but a more important question today is: what does youth power look like in 2025?
According to Stats SA, unemployment is running at a staggering 45.5% for those aged between 15 and 34, and a concerning number of young professionals are opting out of public sector roles or emigrating in search of better opportunities. Over recent years this has resulted in a widening gap between those shaping policy and those most affected by it. But a growing group is now stepping up and stepping in, choosing to stay, build and serve.
This is where the government must do better. It must open doors to youth advisory forums, innovation councils and collaborative initiatives
Too often, young South Africans, especially those with technical and professional qualifications, shy away from working in or with the government, viewing it as bureaucratic, flawed, slow-moving or outdated. However, this perception is slowly being replaced with something more hopeful, with a new wave of professionals beginning to see the government not as a last resort but as a powerful platform for innovation, positive impact and national transformation.
Take Melvyn Lubega, co-founder of GO1, a young South African entrepreneur recently appointed to head the digital service unit in the Presidency and tasked with implementation of the road map for the digital transformation of government services. His story is just one example of what’s possible when young professionals bring their energy and expertise into the public arena.
But this is not about one individual, and his appointment should serve as a call to action for the rest of the country, which already has more than 5,000 IT professionals employed in the government. Imagine the possibilities if more young minds joined this movement, modernising systems, introducing smarter solutions and helping to shape a more responsive and citizen-focused country.
In such countries as India, for example, digital public infrastructure and smarter public-private partnerships have revolutionised sectors from banking to health care. South Africa has the talent and the drive to do the same, and many young South Africans are already laying the groundwork. What is needed now is clearer, more intentional pathways for young people to get involved.
Not every contribution needs to be full-time. Many young professionals today are drawn to flexible, project-based work or freelancing, and they’re more than willing to contribute their skills to public service, especially if those opportunities are accessible, meaningful and designed with this mindset in mind.
This is where the government must do better. It must open doors to youth advisory forums, innovation councils and collaborative initiatives that allow young people to plug in where they can make the biggest difference. Young South Africans shouldn’t be left to figure out how to get involved themselves. The path should be visible, accessible and done with urgency — our future depends on it.
We also need to shake off the idea that youth means inexperience. Lubega notes that some of the world’s most influential companies, such as Meta, Microsoft and Google, were started by young people with little to no working experience. Being young shouldn’t exclude you from impact. In fact, it’s often the secret ingredient to solving old problems in new ways.
Young people should see their age and inexperience as an opportunity to be bold, seek out partnerships with big business and with the government, and be unapologetic about wanting to add value at every level, from economic innovation to policy design.
Lubega captures it best: “The youth must never discount their ability to meaningfully contribute to change, both at a national and continental level.”
The integration of our youth into public service is not just a win for the government but a win for an entire generation who are waiting in the wings, ready to shape the country’s future. The question is whether we are ready to give them the space to do it. South Africa doesn’t just need young people to lead tomorrow; we need them to drive change right now, today.
• Mtwentwe AGA (SA) is MD of Vantage Advisory and host of the SAICA Biz Impact Podcast
For opinion and analysis consideration, e-mail Opinions@timeslive.co.za
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