Ramaphosa to Address Youth Employment Convening
The president will speak on 22 October 2026 to discuss nationwide efforts to reduce youth unemployment.
Updated on Oct. 15, 2026 in Employment
Live Poll
Do you believe government and business partnerships will successfully lower national youth unemployment rates?
President Cyril Ramaphosa will deliver a keynote address on 22 October 2026 at the SA National Leadership Convening on Youth Employment in Johannesburg. The event gathers 250 senior leaders to coordinate action on the Work SA Youth Implementation Plan.
Why it matters
The convening aims to demonstrate tangible progress across established pathways to earning and mobilise multi-sector collaboration to address the country's youth unemployment challenge.
The convening involves 250 senior leaders from government, business, and civil society, with the president scheduled to speak at 10:00. This follows the development of the Work SA Youth Implementation Plan as a central framework for earning opportunities.
The players
Cyril Ramaphosa
Cyril Ramaphosa is the current President of the Republic of South Africa.
Harambee Youth Employment Accelerator
Harambee is a not-for-profit social enterprise that connects young people to first-time work opportunities.
Business Unity South Africa
Business Unity South Africa is the apex representative organisation for businesses in the country.
The details
Hosted by Harambee Youth Employment Accelerator, the event unites partners such as The Presidency and Business Unity South Africa to build confidence in national employment strategies. The session focuses on operationalising a programme of action to create more pathways for young people to enter the workforce.
Timeline
16 October 2026: Deadline for media to RSVP for the convening.
22 October 2026: President Ramaphosa delivers keynote address at 10:00.
Macro View
The event aligns with historical efforts to formalise public-private partnerships to solve structural labour market challenges. This approach builds upon the framework of the Work SA Youth Implementation Plan to ensure coordinated action across government and private sectors.
While the convening primarily involves leadership, the outcomes from the Work SA Youth Implementation Plan will eventually dictate the availability of new earning pathways for young South Africans. Residents should monitor these policy developments for shifts in job placement programmes and government-backed work initiatives.
The takeaway
The gathering represents a significant attempt to streamline disparate efforts between the state and the private sector into a unified action plan. Success will depend on the ability of these 250 leaders to translate high-level strategies into measurable job opportunities for the country's youth.
Further reading
For broader context on national labour trends, visit the Employment section.
Source note: This article includes information reported by Thepresidency.
Live Poll
Do you believe government and business partnerships will successfully lower national youth unemployment rates?
