Mimmy Gondwe Pushes Demand-Led Skills, Partnerships and Youth Employability as Core Higher Education Priorities

“We must skill for employability — not just to tick boxes. Our responsibility is ensuring our young people are employable or able to create their own employment,” Gondwe said.

 

The journey toward opportunity often begins with a single step — and for thousands of young South Africans, that first step lies in education, skills development, and meaningful pathways into employment or entrepreneurship.

This belief sits at the heart of Higher Education and Training Deputy Minister Dr Mimmy Gondwe’s approach. Speaking to SAnews in Pretoria, she emphasised that the sector’s success is not measured by training numbers alone, but by whether graduates secure real economic opportunities.

“We must skill for employability — not just to tick boxes. Our responsibility is ensuring our young people are employable or able to create their own employment,” Gondwe said.

Appointed on 30 June 2024, the Deputy Minister describes herself as a committed, hands-on leader focused on aligning education delivery with labour market needs while expanding entrepreneurial pathways.

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A Shift Toward Demand-Led Education

Gondwe acknowledged that while progress is being made, more work is needed to ensure South Africa is producing skills aligned with global trends, technology, and future markets.

She stressed that the economy cannot absorb every graduate through formal employment alone.

“Enterprise development must be part of our DNA. Young people must know they can create work, not only seek it.”

To support this shift, TVET colleges are strengthening enterprise hubs and Centres of Excellence, while the department works to embed entrepreneurship into mainstream curricula.

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Building Educational-to-Employment Bridges

One of Gondwe’s key focus areas has been strengthening partnerships with the private sector to close the gap between learning and the world of work.

So far, three Memorandums of Understanding (MoUs) have been signed with:

• Old Mutual – supporting financial skills and career pathways

• Microsoft – advancing AI and digital upskilling across youth programmes

• Takealot Group – improving digital commerce skills and entry-level tech employment

Four additional partnerships — including an international training collaboration — are expected to be finalised in early 2026.

“Youth unemployment cannot be ignored. These partnerships will begin to yield results soon, and some will benefit community colleges as well.”

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Reaching Vulnerable and Rural Youth

Ensuring access beyond major cities is also a priority.

Through programmes such as:

• Taking Higher Education to the People

• Business & Skills Imbizos

• Matric Support Programme

…the department targets rural learners and young people in the NEET category — nearly 3.8 million youth who are neither employed, studying, nor training.

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A Digital and AI-Ready Workforce

Asked whether artificial intelligence poses a risk to employment, Gondwe described it as both a challenge and an opportunity.

“Some roles will disappear, but others will emerge. We must ensure our students are competitive and AI-literate.”

TVET colleges and universities are already working with tech companies to integrate digital skills, cybersecurity, software engineering, data literacy and AI-related competencies into vocational and academic programmes.

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Campus Safety and Student Welfare

Recent campus protest incidents have prompted the establishment of a national war room to address institutional readiness and safety ahead of the 2026 academic year.

“Education must take place in environments that are safe, supportive and functional,” she said.

Water and sanitation infrastructure challenges are also being addressed in partnership with the Department of Water and Sanitation — with emergency water access already secured for at-risk institutions.

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Youth Employment: The Central Mission

For Gondwe, the responsibility is deeply personal — both as a parent and policymaker.

“We cannot train young people who end up in unemployment queues. We must care about where they land.”

Her leadership approach, she adds, is grounded in listening, collaboration and continuous learning.

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As the higher education ecosystem evolves, Gondwe’s priority remains clear: ensuring that qualifications translate into meaningful livelihoods, and that every young South African has access to a pathway — whether toward a profession, a trade, or a business of their own.