Melvina Williams. Image: Supplied“The programme has helped my business incredibly. I gained valuable tools that I can apply in my business,” said Melvina Williams, the owner of a second-hand tyre and repair shop in Lavender Hill.
“Before joining the programme, I had no form of advertising or marketing and relied solely on word of mouth and WhatsApp. Since starting the programme, I've created my website and started advertising on Facebook Marketplace. My clientele has since increased. I am very grateful for the opportunity.”
Williams, from Lavender Hill in Cape Town, is just one entrepreneur who benefited from the University of the Western Cape's (UWC) Unemployed Youth Programme (UYP), hosted by the Centre for Entrepreneurship and Innovation (CEI). Its goal is to empower young people to create opportunities for themselves while building more resilient communities and a more inclusive economy.
She found the Dragon’s Den, a pitching session hosted last week, very challenging. It focused on entrepreneurship development approaches mirroring the well-known Dragon's Den and Shark Tank reality show model.
“It was a big challenge, because I am a very shy person and I get nervous easily, but it helped me gain confidence in public speaking. It showed me that hard work pays off and that you will never know the outcome if you do not try. Also, I learnt I can do anything if I put my mind to it,” said Williams.
Such initiatives that create pathways to employment and entrepreneurship are becoming increasingly important against the backdrop of South Africa's persistent joblessness crisis, particularly among young people. Statistics South Africa has reported that youth unemployment remains one of the country's most pressing socio-economic challenges, with millions of young people struggling to secure sustainable work opportunities.
The Centre’s results from a recent poll on the effectiveness of the UYP highlighted the programme's role in equipping young people with the skills, confidence and entrepreneurial mindset needed to improve their economic prospects.
The Director of the CEI, Abe Oliver, said the Dragon's Den-style pitching component allowed aspiring entrepreneurs to gain the confidence to present their economically compelling business ideas to experienced judges and stakeholders. The exercise challenged participants to demonstrate the viability of their ventures, sharpen their presentation skills, and receive constructive feedback from entrepreneurship experts. In this way, participants gained practical experience in communicating business value propositions, attracting support and preparing for real-world funding and investment opportunities. Oliver noted that students and entrepreneurs were provided a much-needed platform to participate in various pitching competitions and programmes designed to build pitch readiness, presentation confidence, venture development and access to funding opportunities.
A poll the CEI launched earlier this year tracked participants from the programme's 2025 cohort and assessed their employment and business activities following the initiative's completion. Of the 32 participants surveyed, several reported meaningful progress in establishing businesses, securing employment, or achieving both.
Oliver said the findings showed that three participants registered their businesses with the CIPC and were actively operating, while five others reported being employed while also running businesses. "Business training is not sufficient; it needs to be complemented with post-incubation support and provision of critical resources such as seed capital and mentorship," he said.
In addition, three participants secured employment, indicating that the programme was contributing not only to entrepreneurship development but also to improved employability. Two participants progressed to the National Youth Development Agency (NYDA) for grant funding support - an important milestone that could help them expand their business ambitions and access additional resources for growth.
“The results underscore the potential impact of targeted transformative entrepreneurship interventions in a country where young people continue to face significant barriers to entering the labour market,” said Oliver. “By providing practical training, mentorship and exposure to business development opportunities, programmes such as the CEI's Unemployed Youth Programme are helping participants move beyond job-seeking and towards job creation. We hope to continue our progress with continued post-programme mentorship and networking opportunities."
