Youth demand education and employment ahead of #SONA2025

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As President Cyril Ramaphosa prepares to deliver his State of the Nation Address (SONA), young South Africans say their struggle to access affordable higher education and find employment must be a priority. 

With hours to go before Ramaphosa outlines government’s plans for the year, the youth say idle and uneducated young people must be given opportunities.

“There’s a lot of funding issues in universities. A lot of students sleeping outside and experiencing difficulties getting into faculties. It’s not because they don’t have the ability, but because they don’t have the funding,” said one young woman.

The young people believe high unemployment is contributing to crime in their communities. 

“There’s a lot of crime because there’s no work. There’s also no housing and a lot of young people are street kids. It’s not good. The young people are just drinking and don’t know what to do,” another young woman told YNews.

A young man, who sells phone plans in the Cape Town CBD, says government grants are enabling laziness. 

He’s called for an end to the practice, saying the money should be pumped into funding small businesses.

“The unemployment rate is going up each and every year. Government is giving people that R350 grant which is making them comfortable with not working. That thing must end, and government must create more job opportunities,” he added.

Meanwhile, Basic Education Minister Siviwe Gwarube says she believes that her portfolio is a catalyst for eliminating poverty and inequality in the country. 

Speaking to YNews ahead of the President’s address, scheduled for 7pm, Gwarube expressed optimism to hearing the country’s first citizen reinforce his support to improve the foundation phase at schools.

The Minister stressed the importance of establishing a system that equips learners well enough for the world of work.

“We really are working hard to put together a medium-term development plan. It’s important because that’s a joint government plan on how we’re going to grow the economy,” she said.

“If we get foundational learning right, and we inject quality education right at the foundation phase, we will be able to solve the inequality problem in South Africa,” the Minister added.