DEPUTY PRESIDENT SHIPOKOSA PAULUS MASHATILE CHAIRED THE HUMAN RESOURCE DEVELOPMENT COUNCIL (HRDC) MEETING ON 21 AUGUST 2025

Deputy President Shipokosa Paulus Mashatile, in his capacity as Chairperson of the Human Resource Development Council (HRDC), chaired the meeting of the HRDC at Gallagher Convention Centre in Johannesburg, Gauteng Province on Thursday, 21 August 2025,

In his opening remarks, the Chairperson congratulated Mr. Buti Manamela on his appointment as the Minister of Higher Education and Training (DHET) and warmly welcomed everyone present at the Council meeting. He highlighted that Council met on the day “considering a troubling reality highlighted by Statistics South Africa, which reported that the unemployment rate has risen again to 33.2%. This means that one-third of the workforce is currently unemployed, with the majority consisting of youth, women, and marginalised groups”. He informed the meeting that the crisis of youth unemployment is particularly severe among young people not in employment, education, or training – the NEET cohort.

The meeting discussed a number of items, including a joint presentation by The Presidency and Harambee Youth Employment Accelerator on interventions made to reduce youth unemployment by 10-20% by 2030, through the Presidential Youth Employment Intervention Programme.

This was followed by a presentation from the National Youth Development Agency (NYDA) delivered by Chief Executive Officer, Mr Ndumiso Kubheka, accompanied by two of his senior officials. Their presentation highlighted interventions and programmes aimed at curbing youth unemployment, as well as an overview of a coordinated digital ecosystem designed to connect the supply and demand of digital skills in the country.

In addition, the Council received a report on the G20 Summit planned for November this year. The report focused on the progress made by the G20 Education Working Group, outlining the priorities of the working group for consideration by the Council.

Lastly, the meeting noted the work the HRDC Executive Committee on HRDC Stakeholder Mapping, which is essential for ensuring that provincial projects align with the needs and expectations of the overall human resource development in the country, ultimately leading to more successful national outcomes

In conclusion, the Council agreed on the following decisions:

• The 5th HRDC Summit must be prioritized to launch the Reconceptualized Human Resource Development Strategy and Master Skills Plan.
• The Gauteng and Free State Provincial governments to expedite the launch of their Provincial Human Resource Development Councils.
• Include Expanded Public Works Programme (EPWP) and other existing plans in the Youth Unemployment Strategy to ensure greater impact on reduction of unemployed youth.
• Presidential Youth Employment Initiatives (PYEI) to source resources from developmental agencies/ partners to strengthen monitoring and evaluation of their implementation. Tracer studies must be used to strengthen understanding of where the youth are.
• The next Council meeting should get a report on the work that SETAs are doing and explain their exit strategy. Discussion must also include how to align the Sector Skills Plans with the Reconceptualized HRD Strategy and Master Skills Plan.
• The Council encouraged partnerships and collaborations for youth employment initiatives.
• Collective X to consider engaging and collaborating with the National Education Collaboration Trust (NECT) focusing on introducing digital skills training at the basic education level.
• HRDC and Collective X to collaborate on skills for digital economy which would include convening joint summits.

The HRDC comprises of government, business, labour, and civil society, tasked with the mandate of advising the government on matters related to developing the skills and human potential of all South Africans, as well as coordinating human resource development efforts across the country.

Enquiries: Mr. Lesley Makhubele, Assistant Director Communication from the Human Resource Development Council Secretariat on 073 692 9100

ISSUED BY HUMAN RESOURCE DEVELOPMENT COUNCIL OF SOUTH AFRICA SECRETARIAT