Minister Stella Tembisa Ndabeni to Headline Event Showcasing Youth Employment, Entrepreneurship and Small Business Growth
By: Lonwabo Mtyeku | Photo Credit: Supplied
Seen Here: Erica Kempken, Co-Founder of youth@WORK, whose innovative approach to youth employment and small business development has helped facilitate more than R920 million in youth salaries and create opportunities for over 17,000 young South Africans since 2019. Photo Credit: Supplied
JOHANNESBURG, SOUTH AFRICA — As South Africa commemorates the 50th anniversary of the historic June 16, 1976 uprising, youth@WORK is set to mark Youth Day 2026 with a powerful celebration of youth-led economic participation under the theme “Youth in Action: R1 Billion in Motion.”
The event will bring together young professionals, entrepreneurs, policymakers, business leaders and development partners to reflect on the transformative impact of youth employment and enterprise development while exploring pathways to a more inclusive economy.
A key highlight of the gathering will be a keynote address by Minister of Small Business Development, Hon. Stella Tembisa Ndabeni, who will join stakeholders in examining the critical role that youth employment, entrepreneurship and small business growth play in South Africa’s long-term economic future.
Turning Investment into Opportunity
The celebration comes as youth@WORK, one of South Africa’s leading Youth Employment Service (YES) implementation partners, approaches a significant milestone in its mission to create meaningful economic opportunities for young people.
Since 2019, the organisation has facilitated more than R920 million in youth salaries, creating paid work opportunities for over 17,155 young South Africans while supporting the growth of more than 2,640 small businesses across the country.
The initiative has become a powerful example of how strategic investment in youth can simultaneously strengthen entrepreneurship, stimulate local economies and create sustainable pathways to employment.
Today, youth@WORK supports 4,161 active youth participants and 977 active small businesses operating across all nine provinces.
Seen Here: The youth@WORK leadership team celebrates the power of youth employment and entrepreneurship, having helped create opportunities for over 17,000 young South Africans while driving small business growth and economic inclusion across the country. Photo Credit: Supplied
A Different Approach to Youth Employment
Unlike traditional job creation programmes that focus solely on placing young people into employment opportunities, youth@WORK has developed a model that strengthens both young workers and small enterprises.
By placing funded youth within emerging businesses, the programme creates a dual impact: young people gain practical workplace experience, skills development and income, while small businesses receive much-needed capacity to expand operations and unlock growth.
According to Erica Kempken, Co-Founder of youth@WORK, this approach creates lasting value beyond individual placements.
“Every rand invested creates two assets: youth capability and small business capacity. When businesses grow, they create more opportunities, strengthen communities and contribute to economic growth,” says Kempken.
Celebrating Stories of Impact
The Youth Day event will showcase the real-world impact of youth-led economic participation through a series of inspiring discussions, entrepreneur showcases and success stories from programme alumni.
Attendees will hear from notable entrepreneurs and innovators who have built successful ventures while creating opportunities within their communities.
Featured speakers include:
- Litha Sam Sam, Founder of the internationally acclaimed Loxion Mobile Library
- Okuhle Saphula, Founder of Noma’s Florist
- Wongalethu “Wonga” Vakala, Founder and CEO of Wonga Technologies
Their stories will provide practical insights into entrepreneurship, resilience and innovation while inspiring young South Africans to pursue their own business ambitions.
The programme will also feature a vibrant Small Business Marketplace, where youth-led enterprises will showcase products, services and innovations that demonstrate the power of entrepreneurship as a catalyst for economic transformation.
The Numbers Behind the Impact
Recent reporting from youth@WORK highlights the scale of its contribution to youth employment and enterprise development:
- More than 17,155 youth placed in paid work opportunities
- Over R920 million in salaries facilitated
- An impressive 95.6% youth retention rate
- 36% of participants transition into sustained employment or self-employment
- 35% achieve long-term economic participation
- 61% female participation
- 87% African youth participation
These outcomes underscore the programme’s role in addressing some of South Africa’s most pressing socio-economic challenges, including youth unemployment, economic exclusion and limited access to entrepreneurial opportunities.
Honouring the Legacy of June 16 Through Economic Empowerment
As South Africa reflects on the courage and sacrifices of the 1976 generation, organisers believe Youth Day must also serve as a platform for empowering today’s youth to shape the country’s future through enterprise, innovation and meaningful economic participation.
The theme “Youth in Action: R1 Billion in Motion” reflects more than a financial milestone—it represents thousands of young South Africans actively contributing to economic growth, supporting local businesses and creating opportunities within their communities.
At a time when youth unemployment remains one of the country’s greatest challenges, youth@WORK’s journey demonstrates how collaboration between business, government and civil society can unlock the potential of South Africa’s next generation.
As the organisation approaches the R1 billion milestone, the message is clear: investing in young people is not only a social imperative—it is an economic necessity that benefits communities, businesses and the nation as a whole.
