Against the backdrop of South Africa’s deepening youth unemployment crisis, the University of the Western Cape (UWC) recently hosted an Interns Colloquium that served not just as a reflection platform, but as a clear call to action.

Delivering the keynote address, Deputy Minister in the Presidency, Nonceba Mhluli, underscored the urgency of the moment, noting how the colloquium itself came together within weeks of a brief conversation, an example, she argued, of what is possible when institutions act decisively. Image credit: Siya Duda/GCIS

Held under the theme “The Future World of Work: Empowering Talent”, the event brought together government, academia and industry to interrogate the progress and future direction of youth employment interventions. The colloquium also marked the fourth anniversary of the Presidential Youth Employment Initiative (PYEI), a flagship programme led by the Presidency of South Africa aimed at tackling youth unemployment through skills development and workplace exposure.

Delivering the keynote address, Deputy Minister in the Presidency, Nonceba Mhluli, underscored the urgency of the moment, noting how the colloquium itself came together within weeks of a brief conversation - an example, she argued, of what is possible when institutions act decisively.

“I didn’t think we would have this colloquium so quickly,” she said. “This speaks to what is possible when institutions and individuals act with purpose ”, said Mhluli.

But beyond the speed of organisation, Mhluli grounded the discussion in a sobering reality: the persistent exclusion of young people from the economy. She emphasised that the conversation is ultimately about young people - their futures, their access to opportunity, and the systems required to support their transition into work.

UWC’s Executive Director of Human Resources, Meko Magida, noted that the Presidential Youth Employment Stimulus emerged at a time when jobs and livelihoods were under severe threat, particularly for young people entering an already constrained labour market. Image credit: Siya Duda/GCIS

“This platform brings together government, academia and the private sector in a shared effort to address one of the most pressing challenges facing our country,” she said, addressing stakeholders including the Department of Higher Education, through the office of the Chief Directorate for Teaching, Learning and Research Capacity Development and Training, and the ETDP-SETA.

At an institutional level, UWC positioned itself as an active participant in confronting this crisis. Opening the colloquium, Rector and Vice-Chancellor, Prof Robert Balfour, framed youth unemployment not as a distant policy issue, but as a national emergency requiring coordinated and sustained intervention.

“We are invested in people as a learning institution, highlighting the University’s responsibility to move beyond academic training and contribute meaningfully to employment pathways ”, said Prof Balfour.

This urgency was echoed by UWC’s Executive Director of Human Resources, Meko Magida, who situated the programme within the broader economic shock caused by the COVID-19 pandemic. He noted that the Presidential Youth Employment Stimulus emerged at a time when jobs and livelihoods were under severe threat, particularly for young people entering an already constrained labour market.

“The problem that we face in society is one of unemployment,” he stated, adding that the pandemic had not only exposed but also intensified existing inequalities. He highlighted that the participation of the Department of Higher Education and Training and the Education, Training and Development Practices Sector Education and Training Authority in the programme, particularly through dedicated funding, was a critical step in expanding opportunities for young people,” said Magida

He also emphasised the importance of broadening partnerships, noting that additional stakeholders who contributed to the programme’s success should be more actively included in future engagements. Their involvement, he suggested, is essential to sustaining and scaling impact.

Rector and Vice-Chancellor Prof Robert Balfour framed youth unemployment not as a distant policy issue, but as a national emergency requiring coordinated and sustained intervention. Image credit: Siya Duda/GCIS

Through the PYEI programme, UWC has hosted approximately 200 interns over the past few years. While modest in scale relative to the millions of unemployed youth in South Africa, the programme represents a critical intervention providing work experience, skills development and a foothold into an otherwise exclusionary labour market.

In a context where lack of experience remains one of the biggest barriers to employment, initiatives like PYEI aim to break a persistent cycle: young people cannot find work without experience, yet cannot gain experience without work. The colloquium created space to confront this paradox and assess whether current interventions are sufficient.

“The theme of the future world of work is not abstract. It is about whether young people are being prepared, included and given real opportunities to participate in the economy ”, Balfour noted.

The event also highlighted the importance of collaboration in aligning education with labour market needs. Partnerships between UWC, government departments and sector bodies have enabled a more responsive approach to skills development, one that recognises both immediate employment needs and long-term adaptability in a changing world of work.

However, speakers stressed that progress must be measured not only in participation numbers but in meaningful outcomes. The colloquium challenged stakeholders to move beyond reporting successes and to critically evaluate the depth and sustainability of impact.

“We must ask ourselves: what difference has this programme made, and how do we deepen that impact?” Balfour said.

The presence of former interns served as a reminder of what is possible, but also of how limited such opportunities remain. Their experiences highlight both the value of structured work exposure and the urgent need to expand access at scale.

As South Africa continues to grapple with one of the highest youth unemployment rates globally, the message from UWC’s colloquium is clear: addressing the crisis requires more than policy; it demands coordinated, sustained action.