Minister for Higher Education outlines vision during CHIETA skills dialogue
4 min read
The magnitude and urgency of South Africa’s unemployment crisis among young people were brought to centre stage at the 2025 CHIETA National Skills Dialogue, where government and industry stakeholders reasserted the pivotal need for skills development as a foundation for inclusive economic growth and national stability.
Hosted by the Chemical Industries Education and Training Authority (CHIETA) at UNISA Graduate School of Business Leadership, the Dialogue converged government, industry, academia, and civil society representatives under the theme: “Bridging the Skills Gap: Advancing Workforce Development for a Sustainable Future.”
Addressing the Dialogue, Minister of Higher Education, Science and Innovation Dr Nobuhle Nkabane delivered a compelling demand for coordinated national action: South Africa’s youth unemployment crisis demands bold, coordinated national action. Quoting statistics revealing how more than 62% of young people aged between 15–24 are out of work and more than 3.8 million are NEET (not in education, employment, or training) the Minister made it absolutely clear that this crisis was not about a labour market problem, but rather a national crisis.
“This is not simply a matter of numbers, it’s a matter of our country’s future,” she said. “We need to move boldly to advance a post-school workforce with digital, green, and innovation-oriented skills in order to lead South Africa to economic competitiveness and social stability.”
Dr Nkabane further highlighted government priorities contained in the Medium-Term Strategic Framework (2024–2029) and the White Paper for Post-School Education and Training. She commended CHIETA’s efforts in advancing these objectives, particularly through its SMART Skills Centres and leadership in inter-SETA collaboration for emerging sectors, including the establishment of a Green Hydrogen Centre of Specialisation in collaboration with CSIR.
Delivering the opening remarks, CHIETA CEO Yershen Pillay echoed the urgency of the moment, pointing out that investments in the economy by South Africa need to be complemented by a future-proof, adaptable, and responsive workforce.
It’s not merely creating jobs, but creating sustainable livelihoods. Skills need to be a bridge between opportunity and fairness, said Pillay.
He presented a vision for three strategic priorities for advancement; inter-sector collaboration, focused implementation, and alignment within each of the 21 SETAs. Pillay also reaffirmed CHIETA’s commitment to impact-driven training, citing over 241,000 youth beneficiaries in the past five years, 80% of whom are under 35 years old.
Our attention must turn from transactional training to transformational results. We need to get young people ready not solely for work, but for ongoing engagement with the economy and society, he added.
Director General of Higher Education and Training, Dr. Nkosinathi Sishi, wrapped up the leadership component by underscoring implementation and community-level impact. He reaffirmed the Department’s intentions to expand innovation-led campuses, deepen public-private partnerships, and develop a nimble skills environment able to accommodate national development priorities.
2025 CHIETA National Skills Dialogue represents a milestone in reshaping the nation’s skills development agenda. It reiterated emphatically the imperative for holistic solutions to close the growing skills gap and confirmed CHIETA’s leadership in marshalling stakeholders toward a common vision for a skilled, resilient, and inclusive South Africa.
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