“VUT and partners celebrated 56 youth in Zeerust, awarding ICT SMME Certificates to equip them with digital skills to fight unemployment.”
26 August 2025 | Story By: Thabisang Thebeeapelo | Picture: Peter Masela
1 minute read time.
The Vaal University of Technology (VUT), in partnership with the National Youth Development Agency (NYDA), the National Electronic Media Institute of South Africa (NEMISA), and the Department of Communications and Digital Technologies (DCDT), hosted an Information Communication Technology (ICT) Small, Medium, and Micro Enterprise (SMME) Certificate Ceremony at Hoërskool Zeerust.
The event celebrated 56 young people who completed training programmes in mobile phone repair and programming. It marked an important milestone in addressing South Africa’s high youth unemployment rate, equipping participants with in-demand digital skills that foster innovation and open pathways for economic participation.
Ms Antoinette Lombard, VUT’s E-Skills Director, and Mr Herry Mathabathe, Director of Human Capital Learning Solutions (HCLS), emphasised the initiative’s significance in empowering young people to enter the technology sector as aspiring technopreneurs. HCLS, a VUT service provider, offers programming courses such as C++ and Python, reflecting the programme’s forward-looking vision. “Our vision is to introduce South Africans, particularly the unemployed, to future programmes,” Mr Mathabathe said.
Delivering the keynote address, Mr Samuel Thobakgale, National Commissioner for the Department of Correctional Services, highlighted the broader social benefits of the initiative. “This is a huge milestone in addressing youth unemployment, but it also contributes significantly to crime prevention,” he noted.
Graduates, now certified in their fields, were recognised for their commitment to personal growth and readiness to contribute to South Africa’s digital economy. With these skills, they are positioned either to launch their own small enterprises or to pursue employment in the expanding ICT industry.
This initiative demonstrates the power of collaboration between academia, government, and development agencies in creating sustainable opportunities for young people. It underscores the role of digital literacy and entrepreneurship in shaping the country’s economic future.