Author: Yershen Pillay

South Africa does not have a youth potential problem. It has a skills alignment problem—worsened by geography and legacy. Young people in South Africa are not just unemployed; they are unequally positioned in an economy where opportunity is concentrated in urban centres, while vast numbers in rural and previously disadvantaged areas are excluded from the infrastructure needed to prepare for the modern labour market. As the global economy accelerates toward clean energy, automation, and digitalisation, too many of our youth are being left behind by the skills bus. At CHIETA, we are changing this. Through the rollout of Smart Skills…

South Africa is losing the global skills race — and unless we act urgently, the economic damage will be irreversible. Youth unemployment dominates our headlines, but the real crisis is deeper: a mismatch between the skills our economy needs and the qualifications we continue to produce. In a world racing toward digitalisation, green energy transitions, and AI-driven industries, we risk being left behind — not from a lack of ambition, but a lack of readiness. The hard truth is this: degrees alone won’t save South Africa’s economy. Skills will. Building an inclusive, competitive economy demands a shift from rhetoric to action. We must…