Education is the key to tackling poverty, says former Statistician-General

Former Statistician-General, Dr. Pali Lehohla, says the lack of educational attainment among South Africa’s youth is a leading driver of poverty, which he says has accelerated dramatically since the dawn of democracy.

Speaking at the City of Tshwane’s Investment Summit in Menlyn Maine on Wednesday, Lehohla said urgent action is needed to prioritise education, especially for young people who make up more than 60% of the population.

“What drives poverty in this country is not a lack of water or electricity. It’s the lack of education” said Lehohla.

He also took aim at the country’s political landscape, describing it as “rotten at the core” and accusing politicians of exploiting vulnerable citizens who lack basic services — reducing them to what he called “voting cows”.

Tshwane MMC for Economic Development and Spatial Planning, Sarah Mabotsa, echoed Lehohla’s concerns, urging young people to prioritise their studies and take full advantage of the city’s status as a knowledge hub.

The MMC who spoke about the inspiration behind the summit’s establishment,  added that it is also concerning that while Tshwane is regarded as one of the country’s knowledge hubs, education is still not receiving the focus it deserves.

She hopes this revelation will push officials to reassess their priorities and ensure education becomes central to political campaigns.

Speaking to YNews, Mabotsa also urged parents to take an active role in their children’s education.

Mabotsa also urged parents to encourage their children to stay committed to learning.

She also called on the youth to embrace their responsibilities in society — reminding them that democracy is not only about rights, but also about duty.

Tshwane Executive Mayor, Dr. Nasiphi Moya, added her voice to the call, saying it is unacceptable job vacancies remain unfilled in the city due to low educational attainment levels.

She acknowledged that much still needs to be done to drive Tshwane and the country toward full development, urging leaders to treat the education crisis with urgency.

She also used the occasion to launch Ithuba, a new youth-focused programme aimed at providing disadvantaged young people with access to internships and entrepreneurial opportunities. The platform is available via the city’s website.

Moya described the summit as a success, announcing that the City of Tshwane had secured over R22 billion in investment pledges — including R2 billion from a major construction company.

She said the next step is converting those pledges into real projects that directly benefit residents, with infrastructure development and water and energy security among the city’s top priorities.

The summit brought together hundreds of delegates, including investors, policy experts, and industry leaders from across Gauteng.

Big news from the #TshwaneInvestmentSummit! R16 Billion pledged towards 22 game-changing projects!

It is not just talk. It is action!

A big thank you to all our investors 🙏. #TshwaneRising pic.twitter.com/B8weLML8OH

— City of Tshwane (@CityTshwane) September 10, 2025

Written by: Odirire Rabalao