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The most significant risk to an organisation meeting its Preferential Procurement targets is fraudulent B-BBEE Certificates and Affidavits. They not only go against the spirit of B-BBEE, but they put an organisation at risk, as fraudulent B-BBEE Credentials generally only reveal themselves at the time of an organisation’s B-BBEE Verification. The B-BBEE Commission's website contains a list of known fraudulent / invalid B-BBEE Credentials currently in circulation. If any Members have suspicions about B-BBEE Credentials currently on file, Certificate Collection Services is on hand to assist with validation of their authenticity.

Staff Writer | 14 November 2023 The Department of Tourism and tech giant Google have signed an agreement that will see the department leverage Google’s technology to boost tourism in South Africa. The deal was finalised yesterday in Cape Town by tourism minister Patricia de Lille and Dr Alistair Mokoena, country director for Google SA. “In an era of digital transformation, collaboration between technology giants and government entities has the potential to reshape industries and enhance public services,” says De Lille. “As stated in the Tourism Sector Green Paper, there is a lack of support mechanisms for the sector, particularly SMMEs, to adapt to a digital future and other technological advancements.” The goal of the collaboration is to harness Google’s tech to support the department’s efforts to promote SA as a prime tourist destination. It will facilitate knowledge-sharing, skills development and the use of digital tools to enhance tourism experiences and sustainability. The department says no monetary exchange will take place as a result of the agreement. The deal includes insights into global travel trends provided by Google, specific studies to investigate the impact of digital platforms and online content, digital skills training for SMMEs through the Google Hustle Academy and Google Ads training. Tourism start-ups can be supported by Google programmes, such as the Start-up Accelerator and Black Founders Fund. The deal marks an extension of collaboration between Google and the department. During the COVID-19 lockdown, a deal was signed to help SA become a virtual tourist destination. Additionally, the partnership aims to showcase SA’s unique travel sites and hidden gems through the existing Google Arts and Culture portal. Mokoena says Google is excited to partner with the department and sign the letter of intent, which aims to position SA as a great tourist destination. “As a company that prides itself on organising the world’s information and making it universally accessible and useful, we look forward to rolling out various programmes, in conjunction with the department, to fast-track digital transformation in the sector, helping with digital skills and showcasing South African tourism,” adds Mokoena. The partnership will also allow for the creation of a tourism thought leadership seminar, which will focus on the digital opportunities for accelerating economic growth in the sector. “By tapping into Google's technology, through digital skills training and the sharing of insights, SA's industry, notably SMMEs, can present their offerings in innovative ways, engaging potential tourists and inspiring them to explore the country,” comments De Lille. In September, the department signed a memorandum of understanding with accommodation-sharing platform Airbnb SA, allowing them to work closely to advance SA’s tourism sector and create more jobs. ‘Disclaimer - The views expressed here are not necessarily those of the BEE CHAMBER’. https://www.itweb.co.za/content/5yONPvEr3Om7XWrb

Bizcommunity | 13 November 2023 At a recent roundtable discussion hosted by youth development group Afrika Tikkun and tech giant Microsoft, business leaders from South Africa's largest corporations questioned whether the country's unemployment problem is due to a lack of jobs or a mismatch between the skills that young people have and the skills that employers need. During the dialogue held under the theme Skills Gap, Youth Employability and Employment industry leaders also identified a critical issue that is hindering progress in South Africa's skill development ecosystem: a lack of coordination and collaboration between employers and those who provide young people with skills. They warned that this lack of collaboration is allowing the skill gap to grow wider. While much of government policy and efforts by the skills and education sector focus on providing as many young people as possible with a wide range of skills and qualifications, employers are still struggling to fill vacancies in tech, finance and other growing sectors without hiring from outside SA or struggling to retain the small pool of skilled individuals in these crucial industries. The dialogue revealed that a significant obstacle impeding the country's workforce development environment was the conspicuous lack of cooperation and coordination among the various stakeholders who are accountable for providing the youth with necessary skills and employment. Distinguished delegates from leading companies, along with various SMMEs and recruitment firms shed light on the urgent imperative for a radical shift in perspective toward collaboration and skills-focused approaches. The consensus among industry players is that harnessing the power of supply chain interactions and industry-wide collaboration is paramount in addressing the pressing skills gap challenges faced by the nation. They also committed to tackling employment challenges as a collective. "Those who want to end the cycle of youth unemployment may need a change in attitude and perspective to get to the bottom of its skills gap challenges that continue to feed into rising unemployment," said Onyi Nwaneri, deputy CEO of Afrika Tikkun. The discussions held during the roundtable highlighted the necessity for employers to reassess their requirements, placing greater emphasis on the value of skills rather than solely relying on formal qualifications. "As we see slight improvements in some aspects of youth unemployment in SA, this is a crucial opportunity for employers to rethink their approach to workforce development," said Nwaneri. "By embracing a mindset change and acknowledging the value of skills, employers can actively contribute to bridging the gap between available resources and the needs of industries affected by the skills shortage." A move towards purpose-driven skills development Despite thousands of young people completing skills development and learnership programmes, the rate at which these graduates were being absorbed into the workforce was severely lacking. According to a recent study by two skills development groups The Collective X and Harambee, more than 28,000 digital and ICT jobs are outsourced to other countries in South Africa, which amounts to R8.5bn in lost export revenue. Additionally, there is currently a demand for around 66,000 digital and ICT jobs forecasted for the next year, of which around 44,000 are entry-level jobs suitable for the youth. But does South Africa have the skilled youth to fill these posts? Young people need to change their attitudes towards education and skills development by embracing the opportunities presented by new technology and globalisation. Employers likewise need to look for skills rather than formal qualifications in order to give opportunities to more capable and eager young minds to participate in the evolving economy, delegates said. In an effort to foster employer collaboration and sustainable growth across industries, AT plans to facilitate further initiatives in the coming months. "We hope this will be the start of a collaborative movement comprising employers, educators, and organisations dedicated to addressing poverty, inequality, and employment challenges in SA. "By leveraging the power of unity and collaboration, AT aims to create a thriving ecosystem that empowers young individuals and uplifts communities," concludes Nwaneri. ‘Disclaimer - The views expressed here are not necessarily those of the BEE CHAMBER’. https://www.bizcommunity.com/Article/196/536/243731.html

Government | Bloomberg | 13 November 2023 This article has been updated with the government’s response to the reports. Government responds to reports on BBE targets for farm exports in South Africa South African farms deemed “too white” will no longer be able to export their produce to the United Kingdom (UK) and the European Union (EU), according to postings in the Government Gazette, the Johannesburg-based City Press newspaper reported. Under the rules, farmers must meet specific Black economic empowerment targets to continue obtaining export permits. The guidelines will apply to agricultural businesses with a minimum annual turnover of R10 million ($534,000) or more. Milk, cream, butter, fruit, nuts, sugar, jam, fruit purée, fruit juices, yeast, table grapes and wine are among the products affected, according to the notice. Southern African Agri Initiative (Saai), a farmers’ lobbying group, told City Press that the rules would undermine investor security, job creation and growth in the nation’s agricultural sector. Further, the measures fall “far outside the framework of internationally acceptable protocols, and the lobby will fight against it in every local and international forum, in courts and multilateral agencies of the UN and the African Union,” City Press reported, citing Theo de Jager, head of Saai. Democratic Alliance, the biggest opposition party in South Africa, lodged a complaint with the trade offices of the EU and the UK, arguing that the regulations violate the rules of fair trade. South Africa’s agreements with the EU and the UK are explicitly premised upon protecting human rights, democratic principles and the rule of law, the alliance said. South African agricultural exports were about R240 billion ($12.8 billion) in 2022, with 20% headed to the EU and 4% to the UK. South African companies have been encouraged to adopt Black-empowerment plans to comply with government policies aimed at redressing financial inequality stemming from the apartheid era. Government denies reports South Africa’s government rejected the reports. The Department of Agriculture, Land Reform & Rural Development publishes procedural requirements for export permits annually, it said in a statement sent by text message on Monday. They include complying with sanitary, phytosanitary requirements, rules of origin and other factors contained in bilateral agreements, the department said. The articles “misrepresented the government’s message about the procedure and annual application for export permits,” it said. “These requirements are not new, and there is no threshold or level that an applicant must reach to be awarded a permit.” ‘Disclaimer - The views expressed here are not necessarily those of the BEE CHAMBER’. https://businesstech.co.za/news/government/730665/bbe-targets-hit-south-african-farms-deemed-too-white/

Warren Hawkins | 13 November 2023 SANRAL extends its public consultation on the proposed Interim Preferential Procurement Policy to the Free State. On Friday 10 November, the South African National Roads Agency SOC Limited (SANRAL) hosted the third instalment of a series of public consultations regarding a proposed Interim Preferential Procurement Policy (PPP) in the Free State. The event took place at the Mangaung Metro Municipality Hall, with virtual participation and satellite venues in Matjhabeng and Smithfield. Kaiser Khoza, SANRAL’s Chief Legal, Risk, and Compliance Officer, and Dumisani Nkabinde, Regional Manager for the Eastern Region, along with other stakeholders, engaged with local construction representatives and various interested parties to discuss the proposed Interim PPP and related matters. “Transformation underpins South Africa’s democracy and previously disadvantaged black South Africans are running out of patience following years of being on the economic periphery picking up crumbs from SANRAL projects,” said Khoza. Tshegare Moletsane, the Acting Transformation Manager, emphasised SANRAL’s steadfast commitment to embedding transformation in its operations, with the goal of expediting the development and growth of Small, Medium, and Micro Enterprises (SMMEs). “SANRAL is in the process of designing a contractor development programme aimed at ensuring targeted enterprises – which includes black-owned SMMEs and enterprises owned by women youth, military veterans and people with disabilities – are progressively advancing in their Construction Industry Development Board (CIDB) grading, ensuring that designated enterprises participate more meaningfully in SANRAL projects,” said Moletsane. The assembled SMMEs wholeheartedly endorsed SANRAL’s commitment to deliver a more progressive final PPP in the near future. However, there was a unanimous appeal for the agency to intensify consultations with black SMMEs to ensure that beneficiaries fully comprehend the policy’s objectives aimed at enhancing their livelihoods. SMMEs urged SANRAL to engage organised black business structures for support before potential court challenges. In his concluding statements, Khoza remarked that the seemingly enduring prosperity of previously advantaged companies in South Africa was unsustainable in the face of widespread poverty. The proposed Interim Preferential Procurement Policy (PPP) is open for public comments for three weeks, until 17 November. The document is accessible on SANRAL’s website (www.nra.co.za) and social media platforms. ‘Disclaimer - The views expressed here are not necessarily those of the BEE CHAMBER’. https://www.bloemfonteincourant.co.za/sanral-extends-its-public-consultation-on-the-proposed-interim-preferential-procurement-policy-to-the-free-state/

Devina Haripersad | 10 November 2023 The Minister went out on a limb to salvage SA's investor-confidence despite reservations around bureaucracy, corruption and the energy crisis. Minister Sihle Zikalala faced gruelling questions from more than 500 global investors about some of the country’s transformation policies such as the BBBEE, localisation and PFMA, which some perceive to be too bureaucratic. The South African minister of Public Works and Infrastructure was in London this week, where he delivered a keynote address at the Global Africa Trade Conference. Investor confidence The minister had embarked on a mission to restore investor confidence in South Africa’s economy, despite their reservations around transformation policies and the energy crisis. “Despite our recent challenges which we are working hard to overcome, such as load shedding, our economy remains resilient and has enhanced reforms, especially on financing large infrastructure projects, where we have opened up space for public-private partnerships,” he said. He also attempted to assure them that despite its reputation, the country was working to root out corruption. He told investors President Cyril Ramaphosa was leading the charge for a corruption-free government, which honoured agreements and contracts with investors. Corruption “The investor environment is one characterised by a commitment to ethics and running a corruption-free administration. An ethical state is essential to assuring investors that their investment is safe from abuse. In addition, we are very clear about the rules of engagement with no other hidden agendas,” said Minister Zikalala. Concerning BBBEE, Minister Zikalala upheld the policies as crucial for addressing the economic inequalities in South Africa, a result of its painful history of apartheid. “Our quest to address the socio-economic imbalances of the past should be no threat to investors but should be part of building a united and democratic South Africa that benefits all its citizens. This is a consensus that we have built as a country that we want to be non-racial, non-sexist and democratic with a prosperous population” said Minister Zikalala. Zikalala went on to promote South Africa as a preferred infrastructure investment destination, illustrating opportunities for foreign direct investments in mega infrastructure projects in the areas of energy, water transport and logistics, hydrogen, harbours and digital infrastructure. ‘Disclaimer - The views expressed here are not necessarily those of the BEE CHAMBER’. https://www.citizen.co.za/news/global-investors-grill-zikalala-on-sas-bbbee-policies/

Raymond Mokwena | 11 November 2023 The youth will be skillful after going through the programme. Edu-fun.org.za NPO will impart skills to 63 unemployed youth through its Edu-Youth programme. According to the founder of the NPO, Serge ‘Coach Banana’ Katombe, they had fewer than 300 applicants but through their selection process, comprised of interviewing applicants, they managed to take 63 applicants. “Our facilitators interviewed the applicants from April to the end of September to assess their suitability for the programme, which is aimed at learners who have dropped out of high school,” he explained. Katombe added that they specifically want those who have reached Grade Nine or above. “Our relationship with those who will take part in our programme won’t end even after they graduate. We will find employment for them and help them to start their own business. “Our facilitators who are training and imparting skills to the unemployed youth are professionals doing this because they are also concerned about the unemployment rate of the youth,” said Katombe. “They thought that instead of sitting and complaining about the situation, they assist the youth by imparting their skills. “What we have come to realise while structuring the programme is that we cannot fight the scourge alone. We need to form relationships with other stakeholders who are doing what we are doing so that we can win the fight together. “The youth that are part of the programme will also get the benefit of networking and life orientation skills.” ‘Disclaimer - The views expressed here are not necessarily those of the BEE CHAMBER’. https://www.citizen.co.za/boksburg-advertiser/news-headlines/local-news/2023/11/11/npo-helping-youth-who-have-dropped-out-of-school/

Bongani Mdakane | 12th November 2023 Despite challenges faced by Akani Retirement Fund Administrators through an ongoing investigation conducted by the Financial Sector Conduct Authority (FCSA), the company’s subsidiary, Akani Properties has unveiled the R500-million Autumn Leaf Shopping Mall in Zeerust at Ramotshere Moiloa Local Municipality, North West. Akani Properties is a black-owned and managed property development, management and investment company. The company opened its doors to shoppers, with major retailers such as PEP, Checkers, Truworths and big banks having secured trading space. This shopping mall development, which includes a taxi rank and a fuel station, became possible after Akani Properties in conjunction with the Municipal Employees Pension Fund clubbed together. In its first phase of a mixed-use property development, there will also be a hotel and a hospital. In a development that will transform Zeerust into a bustling transit town and economic node on the border between South Africa and Botswana, the project also saw local suppliers and SMMEs, including local communities, benefit through projects and job creation. The project employs about 500 people. MEC, economic development in the province, Virginia Tlhapi. said: “The N4 road and Botswana border remain Ramotshere Moiloa’s important competitive advantage, which should be harnessed through continuous infrastructure development and diversification.” Akani Properties chairman, Zamani Letjane said: “We are excited to add Autumn Leaf to our growing portfolio of retail assets in South Africa. “Investing in peri-urban towns such as Zeerust is in line with the investment thesis of our client, the Municipal Employees Pension Fund, which believes that peri-urban towns such as Zeerust present growth opportunities and will stem the tide of migration to big cities and contribute to job creation and economic growth in this largely rural province of North West.” Akani Properties has a number of shopping centres, malls and hotels, which include the exclusive Nicolway Bryanston, Secunda Shopping Centre, Radisson Hotel and Destiny Exclusive Hotel in Kempton Park. In August, Sunday World reported on how Akani Retirement Fund Administrators officials had opened criminal cases against FSCA investigators on allegations of theft and assault. One of the top officials who opened the case against the FSCA was Letjane, who claimed that the investigators had stolen R100 000 in cash and a desktop in his office when it was raided in July last year. However, the FSCA repudiated claims that its investigators who raided the offices of Akani Retirement Fund Administrators in Kempton Park had stolen cash and a desktop, and also denied allegations of assault. ‘Disclaimer - The views expressed here are not necessarily those of the BEE CHAMBER’. https://sundayworld.co.za/news/akani-properties-r500-million-mall-boosts-zeerust-smmes-and-community/

Partner | 13 November 2023 Amidst efforts to empower youth and women to start and grow their businesses and create jobs, Absa has just launched a unique banking solution, specifically designed with these business-owners in mind. Respectively called Absa Emerging Entrepreneur and Absa Business She Thrives, the solution offers a monthly fee waiver for six months on a new Business Evolve account, free access to the integrated business management and accounting tool called Cashflow Manager and access to funding of up to R5 million on an unsecured basis, supported by Absa’s Enterprise Development and Alternate Lending Solutions. In addition, eligible businesses will be able to access their first credit facility without paying any initiation fee and qualify for up to 50% off their bond registration costs. The proposition also includes up to 35% discount on short-term insurance premiums, with a low excess structure and office and roadside assistance at no additional cost. An Employee Care Plan with life, funeral and occupational disability cover is also available. Realising the importance of skills development and capacity building and networking, the proposition includes a complimentary 12-month access to carefully curated content from the online learning platform, Udemy and masterclasses and networking offered via the social enterprise, Lionesses of Africa and the National Small Business Chamber (NSBC). “SMEs are the lifeblood of our economy, driving employment, fostering innovation and bringing communities together,” said Ronnie Mbatsane, Managing Executive for SME Business at Absa Relationship Banking. “Yet, while young people constitute the largest population segment in South Africa, they endure the highest levels of unemployment. Although young people are more likely to prefer self-employment, they often face various challenges including inadequate education and training, a lack of experience, fewer financial resources and access to funding, as well as limited networks and market barriers.” “Moreover, there is global recognition that the economic empowerment of women can create fertile ground to change the trajectory for families and communities.” “By launching this solution, we want to play our part in supporting youth and women entrepreneurs through an offering the removes obstacles and authentically serves these individuals,” Mbatsane adds. Over the past few years, Absa Relationship Banking has done significant work to gain a holistic understanding of the unique needs of small businesses and to design and tailor its solutions with this in mind. Besides the various elements embedded in the proposition, customers will gain access to expert advice and guidance from Absa’s Relationship Bankers on starting and growing a business as well as funding. “We believe that small businesses, particularly those owned by young people and women, would also benefit from greater access to business-focused training material and courses.” “In addition to the courses available on-demand through Udemy, Absa’s Enterprise Development programme provides exposure to markets and resources otherwise not readily available to these businesses,” says Sanah Gumede, Head of Strategy and Customer Value Management at Absa Relationship Banking. “Our long-term partnerships with the NSBC and the social enterprise for women-owned businesses, Lionesses of Africa, allow us the ability to further extend opportunities to our youth and women-owned SME customers for access to learning and networking opportunities.” “We want to do everything in our power to grow youth and women-owned enterprises by providing them with access to opportunities that helps them thrive both in their businesses and enable the advancement of their communities,” concludes Mbatsane. ‘Disclaimer - The views expressed here are not necessarily those of the BEE CHAMBER’. https://businesstech.co.za/news/industry-news/730467/absa-launches-bespoke-offering-for-youth-and-women-owned-businesses/

SA News | 9 November 2023 Public Works and Infrastructure Minister, Sihle Zikalala, has assured investors that South Africa has put in place systems, structures and policies that are investor-friendly and is easing ways of doing business. “As South Africa, we are a story of economic growth, hope and resilience to investors and social partners,” he told investors. The Minister is on an official working visit in the United Kingdom, where he and a delegation are on a mission to promote South Africa as a preferred infrastructure investment destination. “We are open for business and we guarantee your return on investments in a country that is continuously eliminating red tape, has economic stability, improving the ease of doing business and where the rule of law is jealously guarded by our democratic institutions and our courts,” Zikalala said in his address to over 500 global investors in London. The Minister presented to investors a plethora of infrastructure investment opportunities in areas such as energy, water, transport and digital infrastructure. He assured investors that President Cyril Ramaphosa is leading the charge for a corruption-free government which honours agreements and contracts with investors. “The investor environment is one characterised by a commitment to ethics and running a corruption-free administration. An ethical state is essential to assuring investors that their investment is safe from abuse. In addition, we are very clear about the rules of engagement with no other hidden agendas. “Despite our recent challenges which we are working hard to overcome, such as load-shedding, our economy remains resilient and has enhanced reforms, especially on financing large infrastructure projects where we have opened up space for public –private partnerships. We are mobilising private sector financing and skills to work with the government of South Africa to fast track delivery and improve contract and project management,” he said. Policies At Wednesday’s session, the Minister faced gruelling questions around some of the country’s transformation policies such as Broad-Based Black Economic Empowerment (BBBEE), localisation and the Public Finance Management Act (PFMA), which some perceive to be too bureaucratic and impacts on investor confidence. The Minister responded by saying that the policies are critical in redressing South Africa’s economic disparities induced by the pain of its history which left many languishing on the fringes of the economy. “The South African government is creating a new economic landscape and architecture which is premised on economic inclusion of most of the population. “Our quest to address the socio-economic imbalances of the past should be no threat to investors but should be part of building a united and democratic South Africa that benefits all its citizens. “This is a consensus that we have built as a country what we want to be non-racial, non-sexist and democratic with a prosperous population,” said the Minister. Meanwhile, investors expressed excitement about the vast opportunities available in infrastructure investments. The Minister invited the investors to visit South Africa and share the country’s major investment platforms such as the Presidential Infrastructure Investment Summit 2024 and the South Africa Construction Week and conference to be announced soon. He believes the Global Africa Trade Conference is a lucrative opportunity to rebuild South Africa’s economy in the wake of a disruptive pandemic of COVID-19. Zikalala is confident that the new frontiers of economic partnerships have been cemented. The Minister will be in the UK until Friday. ‘Disclaimer - The views expressed here are not necessarily those of the BEE CHAMBER’. https://www.sanews.gov.za/south-africa/sa-good-place-investment-says-zikalala

Nokukhanya Mntambo | 09 November 2023 THE South African National Roads Agency continues its series of stakeholder engagement sessions at various venues in and around KwaZulu-Natal today (November 8) as part of public consultations on an Interim Preferential Procurement Policy (PPP). The main stakeholder engagement session in KwaZulu-Natal will take place at Pietermaritzburg City Hall and will also be linked virtually to venues in Durban, Kokstad and Jozini. The decision to withdraw South African National Roads Agency’s (Sanral) new Preferential Procurement Policy, which came into effect in May 2023, was taken by the board on October 23, 2023, after careful consideration of the legal challenges to the policy launched by construction companies in various courts across the country. These legal challenges would have prevented Sanral from processing some 80 tenders worth billions of Rands, with significant negative consequences for the fulfilment of the roads agency’s constitutional and statutory mandate. The purpose of the stakeholder engagement meetings is to enable Sanral to receive inputs and contributions from interested and affected stakeholders to present a roadmap for the implementation of the interim PPP. Sanral urges all interested and affected stakeholders to participate in this consultative process to facilitate a speedy resolution to any potential obstacles that would delay the roads agency from meeting its mandate to build and maintain the country’s road infrastructure network and pursue its transformation objectives. Satellite venues for today’s consultations are: Durban: Olive Conference Centre Kokstad: Kokstad Youth Centre Jozini: Hlabisa Community Hall ‘Disclaimer - The views expressed here are not necessarily those of the BEE CHAMBER’. https://kznindustrialnews.co.za/sanral-hosts-consultations-on-interim-ppp-in-kzn/

Kasthuri Soni | 8 November 2023 South Africa, like many countries, grapples with the formidable challenge of youth unemployment. Harambee’s aim is to address that challenge. It’s a crisis with far-reaching consequences, not only for the individuals whose dreams are put on hold, but for the nation as a whole. With 8,8-million young South Africans excluded from participation in the economy, unable to secure jobs or earning opportunities or gain the skills they need to thrive, there is a danger of long-term unemployment. As Harambee, we are confident that youth unemployment is not an insurmountable challenge; rather, it is an opportunity to harness the untapped potential of our young people. Our conviction was reaffirmed recently at the Solutions Exchange Conference, a leadership gathering which we co-convened with The Presidency and Business Unity South Africa, where over 300 prominent leaders from government, business, and civil society shared invaluable insights and explored strategies to advance youth livelihoods, together. Getting all stakeholders working in the same direction, as was evident on the day, is the only way we’ll be able to reduce the likelihood of new labour market entrants between the ages of 18 and 34 becoming youth who are not engaged in employment, education, or training. Breaking the barriers to inclusion The employment pathways in the South African economy are far from linear, leading young people to “zigzag” along their journey without a clear transition strategy between different paths. This often results in discontinuous education and employment, which could lead to youth becoming disengaged. The well-known structural barriers, including unequal access to education and the practical cost constraints of jobseeking and accessing labour market entry points, have plagued our system for years. Confronting the broken systems that young people must navigate demands a comprehensive, coordinated approach that unlocks opportunities for South Africa’s youth by addressing inherent structural barriers. The crux of this transformation lies in partnerships that span government, business, and civil society. A glimmer of hope Over the past 12 years, Harambee, together with our partners from across sectors, has enabled one million young South Africans to access earning opportunities. Simply put, public-private partnerships work and are starting to drive meaningful change. In recent years, a powerful partnership ecosystem has emerged, one that recognises the immense promise held by the country’s younger population and keeps young people at the centre of developing sustainable solutions. This partnership, by its very design, strives towards a society where every young person has a clear path to advancement, be it through education, training, work experience, youth service, employment or entrepreneurship. The narrative is one of collaboration, innovation, and resilience, centred on the principle of collective action, acknowledging that the scale, depth and complexity of the challenge are too significant to be solved by any single actor in the ecosystem. What inroads have been made? The partnership ecosystem is championed by initiatives such as the Presidential Youth Employment Intervention, launched in 2020. At the core of this initiative is the National Pathway Management Network (NPMN), a strategic national network of public, private and social sector partners that is coordinated by Harambee and that provides young people with free access to learning and earning opportunities. Described as a “network of networks”, it is a place where resources and opportunities converge, offering young people a visible pathway into the labour market. The NPMN is enabled by SA Youth, an innovative zero-rated multichannel digital platform (SAYouth.mobi) that connects work seekers to employers at no cost, creating an effective and seamless experience for young people, regardless of where they register. This model and integrated platform provide a single-entry point for work seekers that gives them visibility and access to various opportunities and support services from partners within the NPMN – for free! Furthermore, the platform uses geomapping capabilities to match job seekers to local opportunities in close proximity to where they reside, saving young people untold amounts in transportation costs. Employers partnering with SA Youth can load their entry-level jobs on to the system to reach a national database of millions of young individuals. Presently, over 3,7 million jobseekers have been actively supported through the network, alongside almost 1,700 employer partner organisations. The path forward With economic growth expected to expand by a mere 0.3% in 2023, the formal economy cannot generate jobs at a pace sufficient to absorb the countless young people excluded from economic participation. That’s why we must empower young people to grow their employability, be productively engaged and sustainably earn income through various opportunities. The need for large-scale public-private partnerships has never been greater and more urgent – to unlock the potential of young people and accelerate their economic inclusion. The Solutions Exchange Conference enabled us to recommit to the shared objective of unlocking the next million earning opportunities for young people and, importantly, discuss the best modalities to do so. Together we can have a transformative impact on the lives of young South Africans and shift the prospects of a future generation, keeping their voices at the heart of everything that we do. ‘Disclaimer - The views expressed here are not necessarily those of the BEE CHAMBER’. https://www.dailymaverick.co.za/opinionista/2023-11-08-unlocking-the-potential-of-sas-youth-through-the-power-of-partnerships/