South Africa took its youth empowerment story to the world stage this weekend, and the world took notes. Minister in the Presidency for Women, Youth and Persons with Disabilities Sindisiwe Chikunga represented Mzansi at the BRICS Youth Ministers’ Meeting in Visakhapatnam, India, where she showcased three decades of progress and championed deeper cooperation on skills, entrepreneurship and innovation, SAnews reports.
By investing in youth today, we invest in the resilience, prosperity and sustainability of our nations tomorrow, Chikunga told the gathering.
A Proudly South African Scorecard
The Minister shared numbers that tell a remarkable story of progress. In 1994, the matric pass rate stood at around 58 percent; the Class of 2025 achieved a record-breaking National Senior Certificate pass rate of 88 percent. The National Student Financial Aid Scheme has grown from a R33 million budget serving 7 240 students in 1991 to a budget of over R50 billion in 2026, funding more than 1.1 million students at universities and TVET colleges.
She also highlighted President Cyril Ramaphosa’s announcement of paid voluntary work opportunities targeting 100 000 young people in 2026, and the work of the National Youth Development Agency and National Youth Service Programme in expanding volunteerism, civic participation and employment support.
New Friends in High Places
On the sidelines, Chikunga held a bilateral meeting with the United Arab Emirates Minister of State for Youth Affairs, Dr Sultan bin Saif Al Neyadi, to expand cooperation on youth exchange programmes, skills transfers, entrepreneurship and innovation.
She pointed to South Africa’s Solar Technology Training Programme, the celebrated Solar Mamas initiative born from SA’s 2023 BRICS chairship, which trains women in solar technology in partnership with Indian counterparts, as proof of what international partnerships can achieve for communities.
A Framework for the Future
The meeting concluded with the adoption of a joint statement and the BRICS Youth Cooperation Framework, covering youth development, education, skills, entrepreneurship, innovation, sport and social participation. Chikunga urged that young women, rural youth and young persons with disabilities remain at the heart of the agenda.
Delegates even planted saplings in honour of their mothers during a tree-planting drive, a fitting symbol for a meeting about growing the next generation. South Africa’s message in India was clear: our young people are not a challenge to be managed, they are the engine of the future.
Photo: commons.wikimedia.org
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