TELKOM SPENDS R85 MILLION TO TRAIN 1,100 LEARNERS
- BEE NEWS
- Jul 2
- 2 min read
Myles Illidge } 29 June 2026
Through the Telkom Foundation’s RT15 ICT Skills Learnership Programme, Telkom has invested over R85 million to train more than 1,100 learners.
The telecoms giant announced that over 150 learners have graduated from the programme and have secured accredited qualifications and practical experience that opened doors in the working world.
Moreover, 22 learners from the latest cohort have secured permanent or temporary employment, while two have pursued further studies and one has launched a business.
“The certification marks a significant milestone for the cohort, who have completed industry-relevant training designed to prepare them for participation in South Africa’s growing digital economy,” it said.
It explained that the programme, run in collaboration with Telkom Consumer, formed part of a five-year Supplier Development and Localisation initiative with the National Treasury.
Each year, the programme recruits 210 unemployed youth from across the country and equips them with NQF Level 4 and 5 qualifications.
These are in various fields, including marketing, telecommunications networks, systems development, and business analysis.
All qualifications are certified by the Media, Information and Communication Technologies Sector Education and Training Authority (MICT SETA).
The Telkom Foundation highlighted that the youth unemployment crisis in South Africa remains one of the country’s most pressing challenges.
Citing the first quarter 2026 Labour Force Survey, it said that unemployment among people aged between 15 and 34 had reached 45.8%.
Furthermore, the unemployment figure among people aged between 15 and 24 in South Africa was just under 61%.
“A mismatch between education outcomes and labour market needs, limited work experience, and slow economic growth continue to drive these figures,” it said.
Head of the Telkom Foundation, Judy Vilakazi, said the private sector needed to create sustainable employment pathways for youth.
“This begins with recognising that academic qualifications, structured business training, and workplace exposure are critical building blocks of an ecosystem that works,” she said.
The Telkom Foundation said young South Africans in rural and township communities faced the greatest barriers to employment.
It said these barriers included limited access to quality education, connectivity, transport, and mentorship, combined with few clear entry points into the economy.
“The RT15 programme was designed to respond directly to these realities,” the Telkom Foundation stated.
“Through partnerships with corporates and SMMEs, learners receive not only training and connectivity support, but also structured workplace exposure and pathways into economic participation.”
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