This Freedom Day, as South Africa reflects on the promise of democracy, we are confronted with a sobering reality: for millions of young people, freedom still feels uncertain and out of reach.
Too many of our youth are questioning what tomorrow holds in a country where opportunity remains scarce and unevenly distributed. For many, aspiration has been reduced to survival and the ability to set up small businesses on street corners rather than meaningful participation in the economy.
This is not a failure of ambition. South Africa’s young people are more connected, more aware, and more inspired than any generation before them. Through the internet, they are exposed to a world of innovation and possibility yet remain largely excluded from accessing it.
A key challenge lies in the growing misalignment between our education system and the realities of the modern job market. While foundational subjects remain important, they cannot stand alone. Young people need practical, future-focused skills, particularly in technology, digital literacy, and emerging sectors, to compete and thrive in a rapidly evolving global economy.
We also need to rethink how we define opportunity. Sectors such as Agritech hold significant untapped potential in a country rich in land, water, and natural resources. But unlocking this requires deliberate effort, coordinated investment, the right incentives, and stronger collaboration between government and the private sector.
The truth is simple: no single entity can solve this crisis alone.
Public-private partnerships, alongside the critical work of NGOs on the ground, are essential to building sustainable solutions. Government has made important strides through various incentives, but more needs to be done, particularly in addressing the foundational costs of early childhood development and education. This is where long-term change begins.
At the same time, the corporate sector cannot be expected to carry the burden as philanthropists alone. Their greatest contribution lies in creating real, scalable opportunities, jobs, skills pipelines, and entrepreneurial pathways for young people who are prepared, capable, and eager to contribute.
At Afrika Tikkun, our Cradle-to-Career model is designed to do exactly this. We support young people from early childhood through to employment, equipping them not only with skills, but with values, confidence, and a sense of purpose. We work to bridge the gap between potential and opportunity, connecting young South Africans to pathways that lead to sustainable livelihoods and dignified futures.
Freedom must mean more than the absence of oppression. It must mean access to opportunity, to dignity, and to a future worth striving for. Until that becomes a reality for all young South Africans, our work is far from done.
ATTRIBUTE TO: Marc Lubner, Group CEO, Afrika Tikkun
