University of South Africa (Unisa) partners in transformative skills programme development to empower unemployed youth

The University of South Africa (Unisa) has partnered in a transformative youth skills development programme. The aim is to empower unemployed youth.

Unisa, Africa’s largest long-distance e-learning university, has partnered with several stakeholders. This is through its Unisa Enterprise initiative. The aim is to tackle the growing issue of youth unemployment in South Africa. The partners include City Power and Afric Training College. They also include the Unemployment Insurance Fund (UIF) of the Department of Labour and African Bank.

This ambitious youth empowerment initiative aims to reduce youth unemployment by offering hands-on training and opportunities for enterprise development. The initiative was officially launched on August 6, 2025, at City Power’s Head Office in Reuven. A formal beneficiary induction took place on Friday, August 8, 2025.

The CEO of City Power, Tshifularo Mashava has commented on the strategic role of his institution by saying.

“This partnership is important, and the biggest role for City Power is to develop the youth. We can only do this with our partners, as it takes a village to raise a child”

He further collaborated on the aim of the initiative.

“This programme aims to bridge the gap, creating opportunities for those who may not have had the chance to go to university and upskilling graduates who have qualifications but lack workplace experience or placement of opportunities”, added City Power CEO.

Here one needs to understand this programme,

• targets 1200 unemployed youth
• skills of electrical training and enterprise development programmes
• beneficiaries will be equipped with critical energy infrastructure skills like solar panel installations, gas installations and streetlights
• The project will run from August 2025 to August 2026
• beneficiaries are between 18 and 35 years old

This initiative is structured into two parallel streams

• Electrical Skill Development. This will include an accredited programme based on theory and practical components. The programme targets 400 youth, regardless of grade 12.
• Enterprise and Supplier Development includes a phase of entrepreneurial incubation. This phase offers formal training in new venture creation, business compliance, financial literacy, tendering processes, and sustainability planning. This structured program targets 800 youth. They will learn to start their businesses. The program includes structured mentoring and tender readiness simulations.

Beneficiaries of this initiative programme will

• get 12 months of job placement upon completion.
• Six months of fully funded
• monthly stipends from the Department of Labour

Due to the large number of beneficiaries, this project is said to deliver both the electrical training and enterprise development. Supplier development will also be delivered concurrently over the period of six months each.