As South Africa commemorated Youth Day on June 16, we remembered the courage and sacrifice of those who stood against oppression in pursuit of justice, equality, and a better future. This day marks the legacy of the 1976 Soweto Uprising, where young people rose against an unjust system of education.

Youth Day also invites us to reflect more broadly on the historical struggles that shaped our nation, including the Sharpeville Massacre of 1960, where peaceful protestors against pass laws were met with brutal violence by the apartheid regime.

These events underscore the cost of freedom and the ongoing responsibility to uphold the rights and dignity of every South African, especially the youth.

Their legacy lives on, but it also casts a sobering light on the struggles facing today’s generation. Speaking at the official commemoration, Deputy President Paul Mashatile highlighted the country’s progress – noting, for example, the increase in the national matric pass rate from 58% in 1994 to 87.3% in 2024. However, he also acknowledged the persistent and painful realities that continue to confront young people: high unemployment, deepening inequality, and limited opportunities.

Opposition leaders, including Julius Malema and John Steenhuisen, have also called for immediate action to combat the escalating unemployment rates among the youth, showing that across political divides there is consensus on the urgent need to address this crisis.

This year, we witnessed how, despite improvements in academic performance, many matriculants were unable to access higher education due to limited university placements. Moreover, even those who hold degrees continue to struggle to find employment. According to recent data from StatsSA, the official youth unemployment rate, among those aged between 15 and 24, stands at a staggering 62.4%.

This disconnect between educational achievement and economic participation presents a serious ethical dilemma: if education is promoted as the key to success, why is it failing to unlock opportunities for the majority of our youth?

Another barrier is the unrealistic expectation placed on first-time job seekers to already possess several years of experience. This entrenches a cycle of exclusion, where young people are unable to gain the very experience required to enter the workforce. The result is a growing pool of young, discouraged job seekers, compounded by rising levels of mental health challenges.

Today’s youth also face unique and complex obstacles – from the rise of artificial intelligence and automation to navigating a world shaped by climate change, load shedding, and global conflict. The path forward is increasingly uncertain. While this generation is vocal and visible online, their participation in decisions that affect their future remains limited.

We cannot treat youth unemployment as an isolated issue. It reflects a deep, systemic failure across our educational institutions, economic structures, and governance frameworks. The inability to effectively absorb young people into the workforce threatens not only individual livelihoods but the cohesion, stability, and long-term sustainability of our society.

Addressing this crisis requires more than segmented policy interventions – it calls for a holistic response. One of the most compelling conceptual solutions does not originate from a foreign theory, but from the mind of a prominent South African statesman and philosopher: Field Marshal Jan Christiaan Smuts. As a soldier, scholar, and former Prime Minister, Smuts proposed the theory of holism – a philosophical and scientific framework that holds the whole to be greater than the sum of its parts. More importantly, it asserts that natural, social, and economic systems are deeply interconnected – each influencing and being influenced by the others.

When applied to youth unemployment, this perspective urges us to reject siloed thinking and instead recognise the interdependence of education, labour markets, equity, and policy. For instance, an underperforming education system cannot be viewed in isolation from an economy that fails to generate inclusive growth, or from governance that lacks long-term developmental planning.

Holism calls for alignment: between curricula and labour demand, between social equity and economic inclusion, and between local action and national vision.

No single sector can bear the burden or responsibility alone. Government, business, educators, and civil society must collaborate meaningfully. We need ecosystems that support young people from learning to earning – combining skills development with real job placements, or entrepreneurship training with access to capital and mentorship. Youth policies must be embedded into broader economic and industrial strategies.

In the spirit of Smuts’ holism, South Africa must forge a cohesive social compact, one that recognises the complexity of youth unemployment and responds with coordinated, mutually reinforcing action. Only then can we begin to restore the broken links between our youth and their rightful place in the future of our country.

It is equally important to acknowledge the broader socio-economic realities that continue to hinder progress. Many communities still face widespread poverty, inadequate healthcare, and poor-quality education. Countless children grow up without parents or stable support systems, often burdened by the additional challenges of HIV/AIDS, abuse, or neglect – all of which are factors that make employment an even more distant goal.

At the national level, South Africa continues to grapple with persistent load shedding, high crime rates, and an escalating water crisis. Globally, the resurgence of conflict and unresolved historical injustices further shape the pressures on our economy, society, and institutions. These pressures influence not only government policy but also organisational behaviour, hiring practices, and the availability of resources.

Within organisations, hiring decisions are frequently constrained by economic uncertainty, political interference, and failing infrastructure. Employers are often forced to reduce costs, meet compliance targets, or operate within unstable policy environments. As a result, recruitment becomes more risk-averse, and many deserving young people are overlooked – further entrenching long-term unemployment.

Despite these challenges, every stakeholder in society has a critical role to play in reshaping the employment landscape. They can:

• Rethink traditional experience requirements to recognise potential, not just tenure.
• Create meaningful entry-level pathways that offer genuine learning opportunities and clear routes for career progression.
• Invest in mentorship and training to help bridge the gap between education and employment.
• Provide mental health support to ease the emotional and psychological transition into the workforce.
• Involve young people in decision-making, especially on issues that directly impact their future.

It is time to move beyond token internships and short-term contracts. Our young generation must no longer be seen as cheap labour but as valuable contributors who deserve fair treatment, ethical leadership, and real opportunities to grow into the leaders of tomorrow. Ethical leadership, in part, means recognising that how we treat young people today reflect our collective values, and that restoring trust, equity, and justice must begin with tangible, inclusive action.

Youth Day calls on us not only to remember the courage of past generations, but to act with equal courage in the present. If we fail our youth, we fail our future. All sectors of society must work together to build the foundation for a more just, resilient, and hopeful South Africa.

Let Youth Day serve not just as a moment of reflection, but as a renewed national commitment to ensure that the dreams of the next generation are never unheard, unseen, or unfulfilled.

Annie Ou-Yang is a Research Specialist at The Ethics Institute (TEI).