Western Cape Premier Alan Winde has called on private sector leaders to take bold action in addressing youth unemployment. Speaking at the Youth Futures CEO Dialogue in Cape Town, Winde highlighted the success of the Year Beyond program, which has helped over 15,000 young people gain work experience or further education since its inception.
Despite the Western Cape having a lower youth unemployment rate than other provinces, Winde stressed that more must be done. “Too many young people remain without opportunities,” he said. The program, targeting youth aged 18–25, combines mentorship with skills development, preparing participants for the job market.
Jacqueline Boulle, head of Year Beyond, revealed that 45,000 applications were received for only 3,000 available spots, underscoring the program’s demand. The provincial Department of Cultural Affairs and Sport emphasized the need for stronger public-private partnerships to expand such initiatives.
