Honourable Minister Buti Manamela and his Deputy Nomusa Dube-Ncube at the media briefing at the Parliament in Cape Town.
As South Africa continues to battle soaring youth unemployment and mounting pressure on the higher education sector, the Minister of Higher Education and Training, Buti Manamela, has tabled a budget vote aimed at expanding student funding, strengthening TVET colleges and creating pathways to employment.
Despite the allocation of billions, questions persist about whether this investment will truly benefit the country's youth, given the ongoing struggle for jobs among graduates and students' calls for enhanced support.
“The youth of 2026 demand much more meaningful participation in the economy of their own country,” said Minister Manamela. The Minister asserted that this budget vote is intended to generate jobs, promote inclusive growth and fight against inequality.
Some key points he addressed in his speech included:
