Supporting South Africa’s Youth is a National Responsibility

26 June, 2024

On June 16th, South Africa celebrated Youth Day.

On this day in 1976, thousands of Soweto schoolchildren took to the streets, protesting the Apartheid government and the oppressive Bantu education system. These protests played a dramatic role in the country’s resistance movement.

Ata Capital is a proudly South African Investment Firm. We celebrated Youth Day with reverence for those who came before us, as it serves as a powerful reminder that one is never too young or old to take a stand against injustice or advocate for change.

Forty-eight years later, June, which is now recognised as Youth Month, acts as a call to action as South African youth, who currently make up 34.5% of the country’s population, have new battles to fight and hurdles to overcome.

Many of us are familiar with the daunting statistics: Youth unemployment between the ages 15-35 years is at a staggering 45.5%, and our young population are trying to navigate a world equipped with a compromised high-school education system and poor pass rates, as only 55% of the school children who began their school journey in 2012 successfully matriculated in 2023.

In a sobering report, David Everatt, Professor of Urban Governance at The University of the Witwatersrand, writes “Fewer young South Africans are doing better than their counterparts from thirty years ago.” These are biting words.

It is easy to get lost in the mire of troubling statistics and feel powerless against current circumstances. However, as individuals, professionals and businesses, we must remind ourselves that we also have the agency to bring about change at a personal and significant level.

Ata Capital is committed to fostering inclusive workplaces, supporting communities, and promoting ethical business conduct. We encourage the businesses in our three Private Equity Funds to each play a vital role in creating positive social impact, with a strong focus on providing skills development and training to better equip youth in the workplace. In 2024, our Funds’ businesses spent R3 912 340 on black people skills development– a large portion of which were youth entering the workforce. In addition, 18 individuals were absorbed into companies after learnerships.

We are proud of these results, knowing that we have positively impacted the lives of several individuals. We have also gleaned some learnings, and would like to share three ways you can positively impact South African Youth:

Buy Local

By purchasing from local entrepreneurs, and supporting local businesses, you help to strengthen the economy. According to a report by the International Finance Corporation up to 60% of South Africa’s workforce is employed by small businesses and these businesses contribute 34% to the country’s GDP. By buying from local producers, you help strengthen the country and create meaningful opportunities for young, entrepreneurial South Africans.

Provide Learning Opportunities Through Internships

The old expression, ‘The best way to learn is by doing’ holds true.

Pertinent work experience is an asset when it comes to building a successful career. At a time when youth are vying for coveted positions and a means to differentiate themselves in a cut-throat job market, giving them a ‘foot up’ through work experience is a relatively easy way to positively impact a young person’s life.

Internships are an essential way to help young professionals transition into the workplace, build critical skills and gain hands-on experience in their field. The benefits of simply being in a productive environment where ideas are shared, networks created, projects started, and results are attained, help one develop a mindset that sets them apart.

An internship is not an act of altruism as there are upsides for the business too. By bringing in new people temporarily, you have the benefit of fresh ideas and perspectives, potentially developing a pipeline of talent, accessing an enthusiastic workforce, and, if properly structured, certain tax benefits.

Act as a mentor

Acting as a mentor, in your business or personal capacity, is an excellent way to share insights gained from experience, and offer patronage, influence, motivation or direction to a younger or less experienced individual.

Being a mentor allows you to transfer your knowledge to an eager recipient, and to facilitate the personal and professional growth of a young professional in need of guidance.

There are three types of mentoring

Traditional One-on-one Mentoring: A mentee and mentor are matched, either through a programme or on their own.
Distance Mentoring: A mentoring relationship in which the two parties (or group) are in different locations.
Group Mentoring: A single mentor is matched with a cohort of mentees.

So, how do you find a person to mentor? Most long-lasting mentor/ mentee relationships develop organically. However, a good place to start is to inform HR at your company that you are willing to be paired with a young associate with interests in your field or let it be known at your community forums or place of worship that you are eager to act as a mentor. Alternatively, for a more formal arrangement, contact universities and offer mentorship services to their students and graduates.

At Ata Capital, we believe that actions matter and recognize our responsibility to create opportunities – in various forms- for the youth of our country. This June, we are reminded that Youth Month is a rallying cry for all South Africans to work toward a future where the youth of our country have the opportunity to learn, grow and feel empowered to contribute to a more just society.

Supporting South Africa’s Youth is a National Responsibility

26 June, 2024

Buy Local

Provide Learning Opportunities Through Internships

Act as a mentor

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