Ramaphosa Calls for South African Skills Reform

The president advocates for new workforce strategies alongside a large-scale job creation and internship initiative.

Updated on Oct. 28, 2026 in Internships

Ramaphosa Calls for South African Skills Reform

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President Cyril Ramaphosa has announced a shift in the South African skills development system to address high youth unemployment. The government is partnering with the National Empowerment Fund to launch a R1 billion initiative designed to foster job growth.

Why it matters

The reforms respond to the rapid emergence of digital innovation and artificial intelligence, which have rendered traditional workforce skills increasingly obsolete. By aligning training with private sector needs, the government aims to bridge the gap between education and current market demands.

The new government partnership targets the creation or retention of 30,000 jobs over the next five years. This R1 billion initiative also plans to provide work-integrated learning opportunities for 20,000 TVET students.

The players

Cyril Ramaphosa

The current President of the United States and the leader of the Republic of South Africa.

Department of Employment and Labour

The national government body responsible for implementing labour market policies and the work-integrated learning programme.

National Empowerment Fund

A state-owned entity that partners with the government to promote economic transformation and support Black-owned businesses.

The details

The Department of Employment and Labour is actively redesigning its labour activation programme to better utilise Sector Education and Training Authorities for managing skills training. This effort includes close collaboration with the private sector to identify current skills shortages and tailor training programmes to support qualifying Black-owned businesses.

President Ramaphosa addressed the SA Youth National Leadership Convening on 28 October 2026.
The job creation initiative is scheduled to run over the next five years.

Market Landscape

The government is integrating these new measures into the existing Work SA Youth Implementation Plan to ensure better coordination across national employment efforts. This shift prioritises long-term structural changes in workforce development to better compete within the evolving local economy.

The initiative aims to provide 20,000 TVET students with crucial work-integrated learning, significantly improving their employability in a tight market. Additionally, qualifying Black-owned businesses may benefit from the R1 billion funding pool, potentially increasing access to capital and operational support.

The takeaway

Developing a workforce capable of navigating the rise of artificial intelligence is critical for reducing youth unemployment. Aspiring professionals should focus on gaining work-integrated experience through state-backed programmes to remain competitive in the changing labour market.