WeeklySA_AdminBRIDGE: With SA facing dual pressures of high youth unemployment and slow economic recovery, it is imperative for the country’s economy to remain competitive and inclusive…
By Tom Mkhwanazi
The future of South Africa’s wholesale and retail sector hinges not only on technological readiness or market access but on our ability to develop the right skills – at the right time, for the right purpose.
Over the past two decades, the Wholesale & Retail Sector Education and Training Authority has consistently invested in empowering young people and enterprises through skills development.
From learnerships and bursaries to rural entrepreneurship and executive training, we have supported thousands in finding their place in the economy. However, this is no longer enough.
The world has changed. E-commerce is reshaping consumer habits. Artificial intelligence (AI) and automation are transforming retail operations. At the same time, South Africa, like many nations, is facing the dual pressures of high youth unemployment and slow economic recovery and growth.
If we are to remain competitive and inclusive, we must rethink how we develop and deploy skills, with all role players working together.
Our recent engagement with institutions of higher learning was not just a ceremonial dialogue ¬– it was a call to action. A call to academics, employers, policy makers and the private sector to help us build a responsive, future-ready skills pipeline that aligns with the real needs of the sector.
We are seeing far too many graduates who leave universities and colleges with qualifications but no real work experience or applicable skills. We are witnessing missed opportunities for joint research, curriculum development and innovation between education institutions and retailers. These gaps are no longer just problematic, they are urgent.
Yet there is hope.
During our consultations, stakeholders agreed on practical, actionable solutions. These include expanding work-integrated learning, aligning curricula with emerging sector trends and increasing private sector investment in training. Critically, we also discussed developing articulation pathways that allow learners to move more fluidly through the post-school system.
One of our core goals must be to make wholesale and retail a career of choice – not a fallback option. This starts by showing young people the scale of opportunity in the sector – from logistics and digital marketing to buying, data analytics and entrepreneurship. We need to work together to paint that picture clearly.
As W&RSETA, we are ready to facilitate these collaborations. We are ready to co-create solutions, mobilise funding and promote innovation ecosystems that bridge the gap between theory and practice. But we cannot do it alone.
The future of work in the retail and wholesale space will not be built in isolation. It requires a united effort – with industry, academia and government as key players – focused on shared value, mutual accountability and long-term impact.
This is not just a vision; it is a necessity. South Africa’s youth cannot wait. Neither can the economy.
Let us lead for change – together.
· Mkhwanazi is CEO of the Wholesale and Retail Sector Education and Training Authority ( W&RSETA).
