The Lasting Effects of June 16: Ongoing Educational Exclusion for South Africans

Annually, Youth Day encourages South Africa to honor the courage of the young activists who stood against a system designed to limit their potential.

The youth of 1976 were not solely opposing a language directive.

They were confronting an educational system that predetermined a future of restricted possibilities for black children.

Nearly five decades later, laws have changed. The language has evolved.

The pledges have shifted. Yet, for far too many young South Africans, the outcome remains strikingly similar: they continue to be educated into marginalization.

The challenge extends beyond unemployment. It encompasses the severed link between education and career opportunities.

According to Stats SA’s latest Quarterly Labour Force Survey, the youth unemployment rate for ages 15 to 34 is at 45.8%.

For those aged 15 to 24, the figure escalates to 60.9%.

These figures are often repeated, which may contribute to their diminishing impact. They have become so familiar that they risk losing their initial significance.

Beneath these statistics are young individuals who have faithfully followed the prescribed trajectory.

They completed their education. Many engaged in learnerships, short courses, diplomas, or degrees.

They sought employment. They polished their CVs.

They attended interviews. They waited.

Yet, all too often, they find themselves excluded from the economic landscape.

In South Africa, escalating unemployment is dismantling the ladder of opportunity.

Entry-level jobs are no longer exclusively for newcomers to the workforce.

They are now contended by graduates, displaced workers, experienced professionals, and other first-time job seekers, all competing for a limited number of positions.

When everyone is forced to accept any available role, the job market becomes skewed.

Young individuals miss out on their chance to start. Seasoned professionals experience regression in their careers.

Employers are raising expectations for junior jobs, causing the traditional pathway from education to first employment and subsequent advancement to diminish.

We see this in job postings that label a position as “entry-level” while still requiring two years of experience.

We observe fresh graduates offered unpaid internships that are financially unsustainable for them.

We notice employers lamenting the lack of “work-ready” candidates while young people argue that they cannot achieve that readiness without an initial opportunity.

This illustrates a stark contradiction at the core of youth unemployment: young individuals are told they lack experience, yet experience is treated as a reward rather than a stepping stone.

Training alone will not resolve the issue.

South Africa has made significant investments in skills development, and rightly so.

However, skills without access to employers can turn into mere waiting rooms.

A certificate is only valuable if it helps a young person move closer to employment.

A program is impactful only if it aligns with market demands.

A learnership gains significance only if it offers more than a fleeting engagement.

At ORT SA, we’ve seen how different the outcomes can be when training is viewed as a bridge rather than a standalone event.

A noteworthy example is Sandile Mgobhozi, who completed ORT SA’s Big Data program.

The program was not just theoretical.

It was designed to equip young people with digital and analytical skills genuinely sought by employers.

Sandile has since secured a permanent position at Cape Union Mart.

His story is significant not for its rarity but for demonstrating what should be the norm.

When a young person receives relevant training, workplace exposure, mentorship, and a reliable industry connection, employment becomes possible. Not guaranteed, but possible.

That already exceeds what millions of young South Africans are currently afforded.

South Africa does not need more well-intentioned initiatives that merely keep youth occupied without yielding real advancements.

We require viable pathways into meaningful work.

Firstly, employers must rethink their approach to entry-level hiring. If a position is genuinely junior, it shouldn’t require prior experience.

Companies can assess attitude, learning potential, communication skills, reliability, and problem-solving abilities without dampening the prospects for young candidates. Work-readiness is developed through involvement, not anticipated in advance.

Secondly, training providers and NGOs should create programs in collaboration with employers from the beginning.

The question should not be, “What course can we offer?” but rather, “Where is the demand, what skills are essential, and what support will facilitate young people’s transition to the workforce?”

Thirdly, small and medium-sized enterprises must play a role in the solution.

Larger companies cannot accommodate all young job seekers.

SMEs often possess closer connections to local communities and can provide substantial first-job opportunities; however, they require support in hosting, mentoring, and retaining young talent.

This support could include wage subsidies, practical HR guidance, and easier access to youth employment incentives.

Finally, the idea of progression must be reinstated.

A first job does not need to be perfect.

However, it must act as a launching pad. It must equip a young person with a reference, a schedule, a skill set, a network, and proof of their potential contribution.

The youth of 1976 fought against a system that dictated their destinies.

Today’s youth face a different system, yet many receive a comparable message: there’s no place for you here.

In 1976, young people demanded the right to learn. By 2026, their children and grandchildren are still striving for the right to earn.

June 16 must not simply be a day of remembrance.

It should function as a measure of whether we are creating systems that facilitate the transition from education to economic reality.

*The author of this article is Ariellah Rosenberg, the CEO of ORT SA. The views expressed by Ariellah Rosenberg do not necessarily reflect those of The Bulrushes