Today is Youth Day — a day of remembrance, bringing sharp focus onto the important role of youth in driving change.

We remember the courage of the 1976 generation who stood up against injustice and demanded the right to equal education. They refused to be told that their future would be dictated by an unjust government.

And yet, almost half a century later, one injustice has been replaced with another.
Not in the classroom, but in the unemployment queue.

Not enforced by racist laws, but by the cold indifference of 30 years of singular ANC rule that has robbed millions of young South Africans of opportunity.

This is the real crisis of our time — a betrayal of the promise of freedom.

Youth unemployment in South Africa today is the highest in the world.

Over 8.7 million young people are not in employment, education, or training.

That’s not just a statistic — it’s a national tragedy. It is a violation of dignity, a theft of potential, and a failure of justice.

Sadly, in our Country one doesn’t have to go far to meet a young South African who has been affected by the lack of employment opportunities.

These are skilled young people. Matric completed. In many instances higher education completed. Trained for the 4th Industrial Revolution. Unemployed.

They apply for dozens of jobs every month — but hear nothing back. They dont have “connections.” They don’t have experience, or a chance to gain it. And they are losing hope.

That is the story of millions of young people in this country.

They don’t want favours. They don’t want slogans.

They want a country where working hard means getting ahead.

A country that opens doors, not closes them.

A country that sees them.

In the past they had a singular government that clung to policies that served the connected few, not the forgotten many.

They got empty promises at youth summits while the economy crumbled.

They got a jobs crisis caused not by bad luck — but by bad governance.

Just a little less than a year ago, the DA joined the GNU. We did this with two primary objectives in mind. Jobs and Growth.

There have been some clear and measurable wins in the DA-led departments of national government.

Most recently:

In Agriculture, the sector was the biggest contributor to GDP growth this past quarter — proof that with the right leadership, farming can thrive and create jobs.

In Public Works and Infrastructure, Minister Dean Macpherson is launching 250 infrastructure projects worth R238 billion. He’s delivering on his promise to turn South Africa into a construction site, putting people to work and fixing what’s broken.

In Communications and Digital Technologies, Minister Solly Malatsi has issued a draft policy direction to increase competition in internet services — a bold move that will reduce costs and expand access, especially for young people trying to learn, connect, and build businesses online.

In Home Affairs, the Trusted Tour Operator Scheme implemented by Leon Schreiber is paying off — with over 11,000 tourists from China and India arriving in just the last three months: more jobs, and more growth for local tourism operators.

And in Basic Education, Minister Siviwe Gwarube is eradicating pit toilets, and has already removed hazardous asbestos and zinc structures from over 330 schools. She’s doing what every child deserves: making sure schools are safe, dignified spaces to learn.

The DA is making a difference to the lives and livelihoods of all South Africans, but more has to be done.

From within government we can, and will, insist on urgent reforms that will improve economic growth, and on the back of this, increase job opportunities for all South Africans.

The ANC has historically refused to implement the urgent reforms needed to unlock growth. Even now, the policies they are attempting to push block labour market reforms, hinder small business development, and suffocate innovation under a mountain of red tape and cadre deployment.

Meanwhile, the world is moving on. But our youth are being left behind.

It’s not just a failure of policy. It’s a failure of empathy. A government that has historically not understood what life is like for youth and therefore cannot help them.

But it doesn’t have to be this way.

Where the ANC governs, the youth are forgotten.

Where the DA governs, opportunity grows.

Let me give you some real examples:

Western Cape & Cape Town

Youth unemployment is 20 percentage points lower than the national average (Stats SA, Q1 2025).

The Cape Innovation and Technology Initiative (CiTi) and CapaCiTi delivers demand-led digital and ICT skills training, particularly targeting unemployed youth, women, and previously disadvantaged groups. CiTi’s digital skills programmes have helped over 2,000 young people into tech jobs or internships (CiTi Impact Report 2023). It has also trained over 10,000 individuals in digital and ICT-related skills.

Cape Town’s Jobs Connect platform has matched thousands of young people to call centres, retail, and tech work (City of Cape Town, 2024).

ICAN Centres provide free digital literacy training and internet access to bridge the digital divide.

Cape Town and Stellenbosch have become known as “Silicon Cape” — now ranked among the top three African startup hubs (StartupBlink 2024), attracting young entrepreneurs from across the continent.

Midvaal

The Kgatelopele Youth Programme has launched 250+ youth-run agri-businesses (Midvaal LED Report 2024).

Midvaal’s Youth Summit links over 1,000 youth annually to work, training and bursaries.

A Junior Council initiative develops civic leadership in schools.

uMngeni

Under DA Mayor Chris Pappas, monthly graduate dialogues connect unemployed youth to municipal internships.

uMngeni’s clean audit has attracted new investment — which means jobs.

In each of these DA-run places, governance isn’t just a word. It’s the difference between being stuck and getting a chance.

We often hear that if you’re not part of the Fourth Industrial Revolution, you’ll be left behind.

There’s truth in that — but for many young South Africans, especially those without access to tech training, that message can feel like another body blow.

That’s not the message I bring today.

Because opportunity is not limited to coding bootcamps and tech hubs — it’s all around us.

Take the green economy.

Here at home, our minister of forestry, fisheries and the environment, Dion George, is funding students in Limpopo (who are pursuing environment related qualifications) to the tune of R4774 a month to get work experience in the fields of oceans and coasts, climate change and air quality, conservation, and chemicals and waste management, amongst other areas.

Elsewhere in Africa, industries are rising around green energy, recycling, ethical manufacturing, and sustainable trade.

Eliminating single-use plastics.

Rebuilding with renewable materials.

Harnessing green technologies flowing from the Global North to the Global South.

This is honest work. Ethical work. Work that matters.

It’s work that creates jobs — and saves the planet.

We are part of Africa, and particularly sub-Saharan Africa, which has immense potential for economic growth and a large young population to draw on. The SADC Green Economy Strategy and Action Plan is key to our growth. By deepening regional trade and green industrialisation, it can open the door for thousands of young entrepreneurs to plug into real supply chains and regional value markets.

We’re talking about factories that run on renewables.

Logistics powered by clean energy.

Township innovators leading the circular economy.

What I want to say to the youth gathered here today, and to every young South African, is this:

That chance can come. But only if you choose it.

On 29 May last year, millions of South Africans chose change. They voted to end corruption, to end failure, to start fixing this country.

And where the DA is now part of that change — we are going to fight tooth and nail to bring opportunity back to the people who’ve been denied it.

And just because we’re a partner in government, doesn’t mean we stop. The change continues. The future must be secured.

So if you want your life to change — you must vote for it

If you want a job — vote for a party that knows how to create them.

If you want to change the story of unemployment and lack of opportunities, for the country and for yourself — then vote for the party that delivers.

Vote DA. Vote for your future.

Thank you.