WeeklySA_AdminOPPORTUNITY: Freedom promised opportunity but for many young people reality paints a harsher picture
By Ali Mphaki
Today, over 60% of young South Africans aged 15 to 24 are unemployed — one of the highest youth unemployment rates globally.
Only six out of ten children who start school reach matric. And even then, the dream of a post-school qualification feels painfully out of reach. In 2025 alone, four million young people applied to universities nationwide, but just over 200,000 were accepted. The odds reveal a gap — but also the potential for meaningful progress. According to the World Bank, South Africa is the most unequal country in the world.
The scars of apartheid continue to shape every opportunity — or lack thereof — and economic freedom remains a luxury not enjoyed by all. Freedom promised opportunity, but for many young people, reality paints a harsher picture.
Thirty-one years later, we honour the courage and unity displayed in 1994. Yet, we must also acknowledge how much work remains to build a truly just and equal South Africa.
Time is now to unlock doors that have been closed for far too long. To ignite youth voices, fuel their ambitions, and forge real pathways to the economic freedom they deserve.
In its quest to bring tangible opportunities closer to young people, EmpowaYouth will host its Ekurhuleni Summit at Living Waters Bible Church in Thembisa from 26–28 May 2025.
As Sechaba Motsieloa, managing executive, Empowaworx, explains:
“Our mission remains clear – we cannot afford to leave our youth behind if we want a prosperous future”.
Motsieloa further posits that true freedom and empowerment means:
• Access to quality education that opens real pathways beyond matric, empowering young people to thrive.
• Opportunities for skills development and entrepreneurship, giving youth the tools they need to build their futures.
• Policies that drive meaningful economic transformation — not just promises, but tangible progress that creates jobs and uplifts communities.
• Support structures that nurture talent everywhere, ensuring every young person — from rural villages to urban centres — has access to platforms that elevate and empower.
He adds that the hard truth is that freedom feels hollow when you’re hungry. “It feels empty when you’re unemployed. It feels cruel when you’re left behind,” he says.
Far from throwing in the towel, Motsieloa says there is hope: young South Africans are resilient, bold, creative, and hungry for change. They don’t want handouts — they want opportunities. They want to build and lead. Symbolic freedom is not enough. Young people are not pleading for recognition — they are demanding real support, real resources, and real belief in their potential.
Short-term, individual, or exclusive group gains at the expense of our collective prosperity are a betrayal of our Ubuntu — I am because we are.
