Cyril Ramaphosa Calls for New Youth Employment Strategies As South Africans Question His Promises

GAUTENG — President Cyril Ramaphosa has called on South Africa to fundamentally change its approach to youth unemployment, warning that repeating past strategies will not produce different results.

Speaking at the SA National Leadership Convening on Youth Employment on 22 October, Ramaphosa said the country must be willing to challenge entrenched practices and dismantle unnecessary barriers to work.

We cannot solve the challenge of youth unemployment simply by doing more of what we have always done.

The President’s address comes as the nation grapples with a youth unemployment rate that climbed to 62.8% for the 15–24 age group in the second quarter of 2026. Despite various government initiatives, including the Presidential Youth Employment Intervention and the SA Youth platform, many citizens remain skeptical of the government’s ability to deliver.

Public reaction to the address was mixed, with some social media users and critics expressing frustration over the lack of tangible results. One common sentiment shared by critics is that the government needs to address broader economic issues, such as the impact of illegal immigration on the local labor market, to truly create space for young South Africans.

The Economic Freedom Fighters (EFF) and other political figures have previously criticized the administration for failing to curb the rising joblessness, with some calling for a complete overhaul of the ministries responsible for economic growth and employment.