Tsakani – The Quarterly Labour Force Survey (QLFS) of the first quarter of 2021 released by the statistician general, Risenga Maluleke, shows that young people are still struggling in the South African labour market.
The burden of unemployment is also concentrated among the youth, as they account for 59.5% of the total number of unemployed persons.
The unemployment rate among the youth is high, irrespective of education level.
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With the harsh economic conditions and lack of employment, unemployed Thabo Morolong from Tsakani Extension Eight refused to be deterred from pursuing his dreams.
Having attended a carpentry course at Tlamokga Technical School, now known as Ekurhuleni East College Kwa-Thema Campus, he decided to start a manufacturing business.
Unfortunately, the lack of working tools affected his business negatively.
“While I was at technical college, we were advised by our lecturer to use our skills to start our own businesses to bring solutions to our communities.
“This proved to be difficult to the point that I was forced to hop from one piece job to the next, trying to raise capital to start my business.
“I was able to raise enough capital to buy woodwork equipment to start my business, but this was still not enough,” he explained.
The young businessman still had to buy other equipment, which he could not afford.
A neighbour who identified his talent offered to buy him some of the tools he needed to get his business off the ground.
He now manufactures furniture out of wood from his backyard.
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“My advice to young people who have skills is that they must never lose hope, but most importantly, they must use their skills to start their own businesses and bring much-needed solutions in our townships. There are a lot of gaps that young people can close using the trade and skills they have acquired from various institutions of higher learning and training. I am grateful for the support I am receiving from my family and community. When I started with this carpentry business, my close neighbours were the ones who supported me,” he said.
“I can feed my family, pay rent and take my children to school. Other young people who are trying to start businesses believe the government could support such initiatives as they are likely to assist in addressing the issue of unemployment in our townships.”
Thabo Morolong is reachable on 078 670 5436 or 073 728 1442.
This year marks the 45th anniversary of the June 16, 1976, learner uprising in Soweto. In 1994, the new democratic government declared June 16 as National Youth Day and June as Youth Month. The theme for this year is The Year of Charlotte Mannya Maxeke: Growing youth employment for an inclusive and transformed society.
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