Youth Parliament raises concerns over job opportunities and funding in Mpumalanga
Young people used the 2026 Youth Parliament to raise concerns about unemployment, economic opportunities, and service delivery while engaging government on solutions for a better future.
The Mpumalanga Provincial Legislature convened the 2026 Youth Parliament at Sasol Recreation in Embalenhle on Tuesday, June 9. The aim was to discuss critical issues affecting the future and to strengthen youth participation in democratic governance. The deputy minister in the presidency, Nonceba Mhlauli, delivered the keynote address, reflecting on the courage of the 1976 Soweto Uprising generation and its transformative impact on South Africa’s democracy.
She emphasised that the strength of democracy depends not only on elections, but on continuous citizen participation and accountability.
“I urge young people to reject silence in the face of injustice and to actively shape policies through engagement, advocacy, and leadership. The government has implemented interventions aimed at addressing youth unemployment, improving digital education, and strengthening innovation in schools through coding and robotics,” she said. “We need to take advantage of the industrialisation of the agricultural sector, expand youth recruitment programmes, and promote ethical leadership and sustainable development.”
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Various provincial government departments presented progress reports and made commitments focused on youth development, employment creation, and improved service delivery across Mpumalanga. In response, commissions were formed to highlight progress in infrastructure development, including the planned construction of a Gert Sibande TVET College campus in Mkhondo.
Concerns were raised regarding inadequate sports infrastructure in Gert Sibande and Nkangala districts, fair recruitment practices, exploitation of young people in the private sector, and the need for stronger monitoring systems to ensure equitable access to economic opportunities. Attendees also raised concerns about youth unemployment and limited funding for youth-owned enterprises.
The deputy speaker of the Mpumalanga Provincial Legislature, Sam Masango, also addressed the parliament. Reflecting on the legacy of the 1976 youth generation, he emphasised that the struggle for freedom must now evolve into a fight for economic emancipation. “It has been half a century since the youth of 1976 declared that enough is enough. Today’s youth must continue the struggle, now focused on economic liberation,” he said.
He also outlined several priorities aimed at improving youth well-being, including a mandatory youth health budget assessment, expanded HIV/Aids literacy programmes, and the hosting of a Provincial Youth Health Summit before the end of 2026.
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On behalf of the Mpumalanga premier, Khethiwe Moeketsi reaffirmed government’s commitment to placing young people at the centre of the provincial development agenda. She said the baton has been passed to a new generation and emphasised the importance of education, skills development and access to economic opportunities.
Moeketsi said a memorandum of understanding between the provincial government and educational institutions such as the University of Mpumalanga emphasised the expansion of opportunities in artificial intelligence, research, and agricultural innovation that benefit the youth of the province.
