Led by Minister for the Public Service and Administration, Inkosi Mzamo Buthelezi, the Department of Public Service and Administration (DPSA) briefed the Parliamentary Portfolio Committee on Public Service and Administration yesterday, May 4, 2025, focusing on youth empowerment and employment within the Public Service—an especially timely topic in the context of Youth Month.
Delivering the presentation on behalf of the DPSA, Acting Deputy Director-General (ADDG) for Human Resource Management and Development (HRMD) Dr. Anusha Naidoo stated that the purpose was to provide a bird’s-eye view not only of the legal imperatives supporting youth empowerment and employment in the Public Service but also to report on a range of initiatives being implemented across government departments.
“The employment of youth in the Public Service is a central pillar of South Africa’s developmental agenda and a strategic priority for transformation,†said Dr. Naidoo.
With South Africans marking Youth Month ahead of Youth Day on June 16, the statistic that over 60% of unemployed individuals in the country are aged 15–34 remains a stark reflection of the demographic crisis facing both the public and private sectors. According to Dr. Naidoo, this alarming figure undermines the “legal architecture underpinning inclusive youth employment†that has been built over three decades of democracy.
“The Public Service must offer more than jobs—it must offer structured developmental pathways,†she urged.
Dr. Naidoo emphasized that the Public Service continues to lead targeted interventions aimed at addressing the persistently high rates of youth unemployment, poverty, and inequality. These include structured development programs such as internships, learnerships, and National Youth Service placements. In addition, partnerships with TVET colleges and universities are helping to create a pipeline of future-oriented and scarce skills for the Public Service.
She further noted that even modest policy shifts—such as removing prior work experience requirements for entry-level positions—are yielding promising results. Early data shows an increase in first-time applicants and improved demographic representation.
In the 2024/2025 financial year, 23,656 young people benefited from empowerment and development programs within the Public Service, ranging from graduate recruitment schemes to internships.
According to Dr. Naidoo, the current employment profile shows that 347,162 young people are employed in the Public Service. Of these, 286,012 are African, followed by 35,361 Colored, 18,587 White, and 7,202 Asian employees, while the gender breakdown reveals 217,989 are female and 129,173 are male.
“Youth employment in the Public Service is not a compliance issue—it is a nation-building priority. By removing structural barriers, enabling early career development, and institutionalizing reforms, the Public Service will not only reflect the country’s demographics but also become a catalyst for transformation,†she concluded.
