News
Mbalula tells corporate South Africa: stop shutting young people out of jobs
At a packed January 8 gathering in Limpopo, ANC Secretary General Fikile Mbalula delivered a message that struck a nerve far beyond the rally grounds. Corporate South Africa, he said, needs to take a hard look at the way it hires young people, especially the obsession with prior work experience that keeps many locked out before they even begin.
Speaking at the Peter Mokaba rally in Mankweng, Mbalula framed the issue as more than a policy debate. For him, it is a generational crisis playing out in real time. Young South Africans are finishing school, earning qualifications, and then hitting a wall labelled experience required. The result is frustration, wasted potential, and a growing sense that the economy has no place for them.
Experience required, but where do you get it?
Mbalula argued that the current hiring culture effectively excludes young professionals who are still finding their feet. Expecting years of experience from someone at the start of their career, he said, is not just unrealistic but damaging. Experience is something people gain at work, not before it.
His comments echoed a long-standing position from President Cyril Ramaphosa, who has repeatedly warned that South Africa cannot afford to sideline its youth. Mbalula reminded the crowd that education must lead somewhere tangible. Schooling and training mean little if the door to employment remains shut.
The numbers behind the frustration
The urgency of Mbalula’s call is backed by sobering data. According to Statistics South Africa, nearly half of South Africans between the ages of 15 and 34 were unemployed as of May 2025. That figure has climbed sharply over the past decade, underlining just how deep the problem runs.
Digging deeper reveals another uncomfortable truth. University graduates face far lower unemployment than those with only a matric, while people with vocational training sit somewhere in between. These gaps raise uncomfortable questions about whether companies are overlooking capable candidates simply because they do not fit a narrow definition of experience.
A challenge to corporate South Africa
Mbalula’s appeal was not aimed at the government alone. He called directly on the private sector to play its part, urging companies to rethink recruitment models that screen out young talent too early. Programmes that offer workplace exposure, mentorship, and on-the-job learning, he suggested, could make a meaningful difference.
This approach aligns with initiatives already on the table, including the SA Youth Mobi platform launched under the Presidential Youth Employment Intervention. The portal was designed to make it easier for businesses to connect with young job seekers, yet uptake from the private sector remains uneven.
Public reaction and the bigger picture
On social media, Mbalula’s remarks have sparked a familiar but heated debate. Many young South Africans shared stories of endless rejections due to a lack of experience, while others challenged companies to invest in training rather than chasing ready-made employees. Critics, meanwhile, questioned whether political speeches alone can shift entrenched corporate habits.
Mbalula struck an optimistic note towards the end of his address, insisting that the economy is showing signs of recovery and that jobs will follow. Whether that optimism translates into real opportunities for young people may depend on how seriously corporate South Africa takes his challenge.
For a country with one of the youngest populations in the world, the stakes could not be higher. Opening the door to first jobs may be one of the most practical steps South Africa can take to turn potential into progress.
Follow Joburg ETC on Facebook, Twitter, TikT
For more News in Johannesburg, visit joburgetc.com
Source: IOL
Featured Image: EWN
