High youth unemployment, combined with a national skills shortage and the fact that just over a third of the population is between 15 and 35 years old, means that South Africa – already contending with poor economic growth and civil unrest – is barrelling towards an untenable situation. Government has recognised the looming societal threat and sought to address it through various initiatives such as the private–public collaboration the Youth Employment Service, the Presidential Youth Employment Initiative and Operation Vulindlela, all looking to create employment opportunities and enable skills transfer for the youth.
