SAPTU welcomes some of the steps outlined in President Cyril Ramaphosa’s State of the Nation address aimed at improving South Africa’s economy and reducing unemployment. However, we are disappointed by the lack of progress on past promises made in previous addresses. This makes it difficult for us to have confidence in new promises.
We are particularly concerned that the address did not acknowledge the challenges faced by the tertiary sector, especially in training young South Africans amidst high youth unemployment rates. We believe that addressing these challenges is crucial as education is vital in fighting poverty.
The tertiary sector is currently facing new challenges due to the increased number of matriculants entering for further studies, which affects its operations. Additionally, the issues with NSFAS need urgent attention.
SAPTU believes that by addressing these challenges and providing more training opportunities, the tertiary sector can play a significant role in empowering South Africa’s workforce and boosting the economy.