Just over a week ago, South Africa’s Deputy President, Paul Mashatile, reiterated the government’s commitment to tackling youth unemployment. He stressed that “the economic inclusion of young people is not optional it is necessary for the survival and future of this country. ” But for many young people in Potchefstroom, those words feel far removed from the reality they face daily.

Potchefstroom is known as a university town, with thousands of students entering and leaving its borders each year. But behind the academic pride and graduation gowns lies a more uncomfortable truth: a growing number of young people are completing their studies only to enter a job market that has no place for them.

 The Root Causes of Youth Unemployment

Youth unemployment in Potchefstroom and South Africa at large is a deeply layered issue. For university graduates, the biggest hurdle is experience. Entry-level jobs often demand 2–5 years of work experience, a near-impossible requirement for someone just out of university.

For those who never made it to university, the barriers are even higher. In township areas like Ikageng and Promosa, limited access to technology, transport, and networks means many young people don’t even know where to begin looking for employment.

Graduates often feel forced to leave for bigger cities to chase job opportunities if they can afford to.

 Local efforts

Some local initiatives do exist. The NWU Career Centre hosts career fairs and offers job-readiness training, while a few NGOs and government programmes run short-term skills development workshops.

In 2023, the municipality introduced a youth graduate programme aimed at improving employment prospects for young people in the area. However, many say the programme lacked visibility and left out those who needed it most.

“You can’t benefit from opportunities that you don’t even know exist,” said a local youth activist from Ikageng.” Without long-term investment, continuity, and access, these efforts struggle to make a dent in the overall crisis.

By the time of publication the municipality did not respond to the Herald’s request for comment.

The economic and emotional toll

The financial burden of unemployment is only half the story. The emotional weight is just as heavy. Young people describe feelings of shame, anxiety, burnout, and pressure both from family members and themselves. Social media, where many appear to be thriving, adds another layer of silent comparison.

“It’s a mix of excitement and anxiety,” says Xoliswa Ntsabo, a final-year Psychology student at the NWU, “I’m proud of how far I’ve come, but the uncertainty of what comes next is scary. I’ve worked so hard, and I want to believe there’s something out there for me, a job that not only pays the bills but also allows me to grow.”

She believes Potchefstroom is great for education but limited in job absorption once students graduate.

“Most of us have to look to bigger cities or hope for remote work. There’s talent here, but the opportunities just don’t match.” For her and many others, the pressure to succeed is real. “My family has made sacrifices to get me here, so I feel like I owe it to them. Society expects us to ‘make it’ right after graduation, and I don’t want to feel like I’ve wasted years of hard work just to end up unemployed or underpaid.”

Lesego Mokoena, also completing her final year, echoed these concerns. While she looks forward to building her career, she feels overwhelmed by the lack of direction and by the barriers that make employment harder for some. “I feel relieved that I’ll finally be starting off my life and to have my first career experience,” she said, “but I also feel uncertain about the process itself like where I should start, and how to actually get a placement.”

 What youth are calling for

Many young people aren’t asking for handouts they’re asking for access. They want graduate programmes that lead to jobs, not internships that go nowhere. They want local investment that allows them to stay in their hometowns and still thrive.

“Stop making empty promises,” says Xoliswa. “Create real graduate programmes that don’t expect three years of experience, and invest in small towns like Potch, there are skilled, passionate young people here who just need a fair shot.”

As political leaders continue to make bold claims about addressing youth unemployment, the young people in towns like Potchefstroom are still waiting not just for jobs, but for belonging in an economy that too often forgets them.