Technical and Vocational Education and Training (TVET) graduates have a critical role to play in addressing South Africa's skills shortages, youth unemployment challenges, and the need for transformation in key sectors of the economy.
Speaking at the Institute of Building Inspectors Youth Sector Business Breakfast on Thursday, Deputy Minister in the Presidency for Women, Youth and Persons with Disabilities, Mmapaseka Steve Letsike, highlighted the importance of TVET graduates in creating stronger links between skills development and economic opportunities.
TVET Graduates Key to Closing the Skills Gap
Letsike said TVET graduates provide an important connection between technical training and professional careers.
"They represent the bridge that South Africa desperately needs – the bridge between artisan knowledge and professional recognition, between technical skill and regulatory authority, between township and college pathways and formal professional status," the Deputy Minister said.
Her remarks come as many young South Africans continue to face barriers to employment, despite completing their studies and qualifications.
TVET Education Should Be Recognised as a Valuable Career Path
Letsike stressed that TVET education should no longer be viewed as a second-choice option, but rather as a respected route to professional success and leadership.
"If we are serious about youth development, we must stop treating TVET education as a second-class pathway."
She pointed to the success of the Gauteng-funded Youth Building Inspector Programme, which has created workplace learning opportunities for unemployed graduates through partnerships between municipalities, higher education institutions and industry stakeholders.
Youth Building Inspector Programme Creates Opportunities
The programme has already provided workplace experience opportunities to 248 unemployed graduates in the built-environment sector and has supported 51 young women on their path towards professional registration.
According to Letsike, the programme demonstrates that South Africa has talented young people, but often lacks the support systems needed to help them move successfully from education into employment.
"Transformation fails when support systems are absent," she said.
Many of the programme participants hold TVET and technical qualifications in areas such as:
- Electrical Engineering
- Plumbing
- Civil Construction
- Building
- Construction Management
Creating Clear Career Pathways for TVET Graduates
Letsike emphasised that young people will be more likely to pursue TVET qualifications if they can see clear opportunities for career advancement.
"A young woman who studies electrical engineering at a TVET college must be able to imagine herself not only as an assistant on site, but as a registered inspector, a compliance professional, an entrepreneur, a municipal official, a project manager and a leader in the built environment.”
She called on government departments, municipalities, professional councils, educational institutions and private companies to work together to create seamless pathways from education to employment.
Stronger Support Needed for Young Professionals
The Deputy Minister said young people should be able to move from training and recruitment into workplace learning, mentorship, professional registration, employment and entrepreneurship without unnecessary obstacles.
"Candidate categories must become bridges, not traps," Letsike said.
She urged professional bodies to make registration processes more accessible while maintaining high professional standards.
Private Sector Encouraged to Invest in Youth Development
Letsike also challenged businesses to create more meaningful workplace opportunities through internships, mentorship programmes and career development initiatives.
She noted that South Africa's infrastructure and development goals depend on attracting, training and retaining skilled young professionals.
"The developmental state must behave like one state. Young people should not be left to navigate fragmented systems alone," Letsike said.
Empowering Youth Through Skills Development
According to the Deputy Minister, supporting TVET graduates and young professionals will strengthen the built-environment sector while contributing to economic growth, improved municipal services and inclusive development.
"The youth of this generation are fighting against an economy that too often produces exclusion. Different battlefield, same demand: dignity, opportunity, recognition, and freedom," she said.
The call for stronger TVET pathways comes as South Africa continues to focus on expanding access to skills development opportunities and creating sustainable employment pathways for young people.
