Deputy President Paul Mashatile reaffirmed Black Economic Empowerment at the Youth Investment Indaba in Johannesburg, saying the government will fix its weaknesses rather than abandon it. He framed BEE as central to reducing poverty and joblessness among black South Africans and urged a national compact that places youth at the center of economic policy. Citing first quarter 2025 data, he noted that 34% of people ages 15 to 24 are not in work, school, or training, while youth unemployment stands at 46.1% against an overall rate of 32.9%.
The event launched the National Youth Development Agency’s R2.5 billion National Youth Fund to back enterprises in sectors such as mining, agriculture, and manufacturing, with public and private capital over three years. Mashatile linked that push to a R100 billion Transformation Fund to expand support for black and youth-owned firms, and to work with the Human Resource Development Council to align training with jobs. He also called for faster land access through land reform committees and for fewer market barriers, arguing that young producers need clear routes to finance, buyers, and growth.
The event launched the National Youth Development Agency’s R2.5 billion National Youth Fund to back enterprises in sectors such as mining, agriculture, and manufacturing, with public and private capital over three years. Mashatile linked that push to a R100 billion Transformation Fund to expand support for black and youth-owned firms, and to work with the Human Resource Development Council to align training with jobs. He also called for faster land access through land reform committees and for fewer market barriers, arguing that young producers need clear routes to finance, buyers, and growth.
