Speech by Deputy Minister in The Presidency, Nonceba Mhlauli, on the occasion of The Presidency Budget Vote 2025/2026, National Assembly

Madame Speaker,
His Excellency, President Cyril Ramaphosa,
Deputy President of the Republic, The Honourable Paul Mashatile (in absentia),
Members of the Executive,
Honourable Chief Whip,
Honourable Members of the House,
Distinguished guests.

Mr President, Madame Speaker,

After the 2024 May Election results, the political parties committed to see South Africa move forward, anchored on strengthening our constitutional democracy came together guided the Statement of Intent, to form Government of National Unity. Our constitution, founded on amongst others, the Freedom Charter, adopted 70 years ago. The constitution, in the preamble enjoins us to improve the quality of life of every citizen and free the potential of each person.

We accept that the challenges confronting our country are stark. We are contending with the stubborn legacy of colonialism and apartheid that continues to manifest itself through inequality, youth unemployment and slow economic growth. But we remain resolute.

Through the Presidential Youth Employment Intervention (PYEI), and cross-cutting coordination with social partners, we are shifting the dial and scaling solutions that are showing real impact.

One of the most promising interventions we are leading is Jobs Boost, a groundbreaking outcomes-based employment model. Jobs Boost is a R300 million pay-for-performance initiative currently being piloted. 

This programme which is currently in its pilot phase, seeks to connect 4,500 of the most marginalised young people in our country to sustainable, quality jobs. It is among the largest outcomes funds globally dedicated to youth employment. 

Mr President

What makes Jobs Boost particularly powerful is its laser focus on inclusion and results. The programme targets young people who have matriculated from quintile 1 to 3 schools or received child support grants, and who have no formal post-school qualifications. These are the youth most at risk of long-term exclusion. 

Jobs Boost ensures they are placed in high-quality jobs that are employer-paid, and monitors whether they remain in these jobs. 

To date, twelve implementing partners have begun rolling out the programme. Since September 2024, we have seen:
• 4,136 young people placed in sustainable jobs,
• 1,543 of them have retained these jobs for at least three months,
• 825 have remained employed for six months or longer.

These are not just numbers; they represent young lives being changed. They represent families who now have a steady income. 

The pilot will conclude in December 2025, and early indicators suggest that Jobs Boost will not only meet its targets but also set a new benchmark for how we tackle youth unemployment. We look forward to scaling this model in 2026, in partnership with the private sector and donors.

Linked to this success is the growing impact of SAYouth.mobi, the digital platform that is the heartbeat of the Presidential Youth Employment Intervention. Since its launch in 2020, SA Youth has grown to over 4.7 million registered users. 

Through the platform, young people have accessed more than 1.67 million earning opportunities. These include jobs supported by the Presidential Employment Stimulus, the Youth Employment Service, and the National Youth Service.

This platform is not only large in scale but also deeply equitable. Over 70% of the opportunities accessed have gone to young black African women. More than 73% of users come from quintile 1 to 3 schools, and 65% live in households where at least one member receives a social grant. 

These statistics show that SA Youth is reaching the very people who need it most.

Speaker,

This is what inclusive development looks like. When we design systems intentionally to serve the poor and unemployed, we bend the trajectory of this country towards justice and shared prosperity.

These achievements are not accidental. They are the result of strong coordination led by the Presidency, and the tireless work of departments and delivery partners across the state. 

As we move forward, we invite all sectors of society to be part of the solution. The Jobs Boost model demonstrates the power of partnership. Equally so, the SA Youth platform thrives because of cooperation between government, business, and civil society. 

Honourable Members, we are laying the foundation for a new economy. One that works for all, especially the youth. One that sees potential in our people, not just risk. One that rewards innovation, not exclusion.

Madame Speaker,

I also wish to highlight the responsibilities of Deputy President Paul Mashatile who is on official assignment abroad, whose work continues to strengthen the Presidency’s leadership across critical social and economic programmes.

The Office of the Deputy President leads our national response to HIV, TB and STIs through his stewardship of the South African National AIDS Council. Under his leadership, the country is intensifying efforts to reach the 95-95-95 targets, while also strengthening partnerships with civil society and the private sector to reduce vulnerability and address the social drivers of disease. 

This includes prioritising gender-based violence and femicide, and aligning our work with global efforts to end AIDS in children by 2030. At the World TB Day commemoration in Mpumalanga earlier this year, the Deputy President reminded us that ending TB is not just a health imperative but a matter of dignity and justice. He reaffirmed our commitment to invest in early diagnosis, community-led monitoring and strengthening the health systems that support vulnerable people. His call to action is clear. We must ensure that no one is left behind in our fight to end preventable illness and suffering. 

Madame Speaker,

The Presidency is also leading the Human Resource Development Council, advancing the implementation of South Africa’s Human Resource Development Strategy Towards 2030. The Council has committed to deepening coordination across sectors to solve the structural skills mismatch in our economy.

The National Skills Advisory Forum was launched, which will serve as a strategic platform for all stakeholders to jointly diagnose, prioritise and respond to South Africa’s skills challenges. 

This initiative reflects a shift toward a more agile, data-driven and responsive human development ecosystem that aligns with our growth sectors and transformation objectives. This forum is about more than training people for jobs, it is about building the competencies and capabilities of an empowered nation.

The Presidency emphasises on building capacity for the Just Energy Transition is especially critical. Through the Just Energy Skills Forum, we are ensuring that South Africa’s energy future is not just clean but also inclusive. 

Workers and communities affected by the transition will not be left behind. Instead, they will be equipped to lead it. The HRDC’s work is laying the foundation for industrialisation pathways that are both green and just. 

The upcoming Fifth HRDC Summit, which will assess progress and chart the next phase, is a moment to galvanise action across the skills landscape. The HRDC is not an observer it is an enabler of change. This work is essential for preparing our workforce for the demands of a 21st century economy, and is being done in collaboration with the Department of Higher Education and partners across labour, business, academia and communities.

Lastly, fellow Members,

I would like to remind some amongst us in the GNU, that what binds us, is the statement of intent, whose foundation is the respect of our constitution and constitutional democracy. I would like to warn the DA, that being in the GNU does not give a license to alter the constitution or pick and choose constitutional provisions that we like and throw others of the window because we don’t like them.