President Cyril Ramaphosa, in an address to South African youths, has reaffirmed his government’s readiness to continue its structural reforms, infrastructure investment, and targeted job-creation measures to achieve inclusive growth and minimise unemployment in the country.

Mr Ramaphosa made the remark in a statement on Monday, ahead of Youth Day, held every June 16, an annual commemoration of the 1976 Soweto Uprising, when students protested against apartheid-era education policies.

The president acknowledged that South African youths face economic challenges, such as scarce jobs, limited opportunities and unemployment, which are prevalent in the country.

Mr Ramaphosa stated, “Many of you are working hard, applying for jobs, pursuing training and seeking opportunities, only to face disappointment. We hear these frustrations, and we understand that they are real.”

He assured that his administration’s efforts to invest in infrastructure programmes and undertake other far-reaching reforms, such as raising R890 billion in new investment pledges in the past year, would yield rewards, such as jobs for the young population.

“Inclusive economic growth is essential if we are to tackle youth unemployment in a meaningful and lasting way. That is why we are investing in a massive infrastructure programme and undertaking far-reaching reforms to make our economy more competitive,” Mr Ramaphosa explained. “These efforts will take time to translate into jobs. And even as the economy grows, young people may still find it difficult to participate in that growth. That is why we have been investing in programmes that give you access to learning and work opportunities, skills, experience and an income.”

Mr Ramaphosa described one of his programmes, the Presidential Employment Stimulus, launched at the height of the COVID-19 pandemic, as one of his administration’s achievements.

“Today, that stimulus has created in excess of 2.5 million work and livelihood opportunities. More than eight in ten of these opportunities have gone to young people, and two-thirds to women. It has enabled the most rapid expansion of public employment in our history,” he said.

Mr Ramaphosa listed the Basic Education Employment Initiative, the Presidential Employment Stimulus, the Social Employment Fund, the Youth Employment Service, the revitalised National Youth Service and the Jobs Boost Outcomes Fund, among other structural policies, as reforms that would restore dignity, renew confidence and broaden the horizon of the country’s youth population.

“Although these opportunities are mostly short-term, there are thousands of stories of young people who have used them as a stepping stone towards finding a permanent job, starting a small business or studying towards a new career,” Mr Ramaphosa stated.

He called on private and public corporations, individuals, and citizens to open doors for the country’s young population.

“Every company, every department, every organisation and every South African who is able to open a door for a young person must do so. Your country sees your potential and will work with you to ensure that you realise it. Let us together build a South Africa in which every young person finds their place in an inclusive economy and in a thriving society,” the South African president stated.

Meanwhile, angry mobs across the country, mainly youths have been carrying out vicious xenophobic attacks on Black immigrants in South Africa, killing at least 10 Ethiopians and Mozambicans.