Your story is not over: Kwa-Thema’s Caliva inspires youth amid rising unemployment and depression
As the youth unemployment crisis deepens, a Kwa-Thema man uses his voice and lived experience to address the emotional toll it takes, choosing to inspire others instead of giving in to hopelessness.
Kwa-Thema – As youth unemployment in SA continues to rise, young leaders like Khotso Makoloane (26) are stepping up to not only navigate the crisis but shine a light on its emotional toll.
Known to his growing online community as ‘Caliva’, Makoloane uses his platform to speak openly about mental health, a topic often avoided in many communities.
One of his struggles was securing employment after completing matric in 2020. According to Stats SA, the official unemployment rate was 32.9% in the first quarter of 2025.
This is a decrease of 291 000 in the number of employed people to 16.8 million from 17.1 million in the fourth quarter of 2024.
However, the youth (15 to 34) remain the most vulnerable.
The results for the first quarter of 2025 also show that the total number of unemployed youth increased by 151 000 to 4.8 million. As a result, the youth unemployment rate increased from 44.6% in the fourth quarter of 2024 to 46.1% in the first quarter of 2025.
“After battling with depression for a while, I realised I wasn’t the only one going through it. Depression makes you feel like you’re the only one suffering, as if life has singled you out. But when I opened up and saw how many others related, it hit me that my story could help someone else. That changed everything,” he explained.
Makoloane volunteered and gained working experience at the Thabang Xaba Foundation.
“I’ve always been outspoken, even in high school. But things became real when I started working with the foundation. That’s where I discovered what my voice should stand for. I was exposed to so many experiences that shaped how I see life and how I show up for others.
That’s when I knew I wanted to advocate for something greater than myself. If we keep quiet, nothing changes,” he added.
No easy solution to the scourge of youth unemployment
“Young people are the most affected by unemployment, with a rate higher than other demographic groups,” said Clotilde Angelucci, the acting project lead at Youth Capital, a youth advocacy organisation.
She said youth unemployment was a complex crisis rooted in several systemic roadblocks. She explained how, after engaging young South Africans and a research review, Youth Capital prioritised 10 main challenges that need addressing from a policy perspective to shift the needle on the crisis. These include support beyond the classroom, making job-seeking affordable and making public employment work.
She also believes that instead of asking whether SA’s youth is employable, we should ask whether young South Africans can access entry points into our economy to make an income.
“We also have an issue of low absorption, which means there aren’t enough jobs. Businesses and industry have a key role to play, from promoting youth-friendly hiring practices that consider informal experience [and not only completed qualification and formal work experience] to signalling better the skills that they need”.
Angelucci said one could do this by working with educational institutions such as technical and vocational education and training (TVET) centres and engaging more directly with sector education and training authorities.
TVET focuses on providing students with practical skills and knowledge for specific trades and occupations. The Sector Education and Training Authority (Seta) is responsible for leading the development and implementation of skills development programmes in specific economic sectors.
“They could bring down some barriers to entry that small businesses face and widen their procurement to small businesses. Lastly, promoting mentorship is key. Research shows social connections can open opportunities, information and links that promote social mobility,” she explained.
Turning pain into purpose
After a recent break-up, Makoloane shared with social media users.
“It’s okay to feel tired. Life gets heavy sometimes, but please don’t give up. You are still here for a reason, even if you don’t see it yet. Your story is not over. Keep going. Your life has value,” he said.
Makoloane is a freelance radio presenter, public speaker, facilitator and mental health advocate.
