DHET and Takealot Launch Initiative to Help Students Earn Income While Studying

Under the initiative, 500 students are expected to benefit from income-generating opportunities while pursuing their academic studies.

South Africa's Department of Higher Education and Training (DHET), in partnership with leading e-commerce company Takealot Group, has launched a new initiative aimed at providing income-earning opportunities to students while they continue their studies.

The programme forms part of the expansion of the existing Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) between DHET and Takealot and is being spearheaded by Deputy Minister of Higher Education and Training Dr Mimmy Gondwe. The initiative seeks to strengthen pathways between higher education and economic participation while addressing youth unemployment and entrepreneurship development.

As part of the rollout, Takealot Group recently engaged with the South African Union of Students (SAUS) and the Deputy Minister to introduce the Takealot Township Economy Initiative (TTEI), a programme designed to provide flexible earning opportunities and practical workplace exposure for students.

Under the initiative, 500 students are expected to benefit from income-generating opportunities while pursuing their academic studies. The programme is specifically structured to accommodate students' academic schedules, allowing them to balance work experience and education simultaneously.

Officials stated that the initiative offers three flexible earning streams aimed at helping students gain financial support, work experience, and entrepreneurial exposure. Peak earning opportunities are expected during high-demand business periods such as Fridays, month-end weekends, and Saturdays.

The programme is also intended to create a long-term pathway towards entrepreneurship by exposing students to digital commerce operations, logistics, customer engagement, and business management systems within South Africa's growing e-commerce economy.

According to the Department of Higher Education and Training, the initiative builds on the four key focus areas established under the original DHET-Takealot Memorandum of Understanding. The expanded partnership aims to strengthen practical economic participation and improve employability outcomes for young people in higher education institutions.

Importantly, the programme will include SETA-accredited training, providing participants with structured workplace learning and recognised skills development opportunities. The inclusion of accredited training is expected to enhance students' professional profiles and improve their long-term employment prospects.

Deputy Minister Dr Mimmy Gondwe said the partnership represents a practical step towards converting education partnerships into real economic opportunities for students.

"Through this newly added focus area and collaboration, we are turning our already impactful MOU into real economic participation for students, providing them with tangible work experience, income, and entrepreneurship skills," Gondwe said.

The pilot phase of the initiative is expected to be implemented over the next three months at three selected higher education institutions. Further details regarding student participation, application processes, and programme operations are expected to be communicated ahead of the official rollout.

The Deputy Minister emphasised that strengthening partnerships between government and the private sector remains essential for tackling South Africa's high youth unemployment rate and expanding opportunities for economic inclusion.

South Africa continues to face significant youth unemployment challenges, with many students struggling to access part-time employment, workplace experience, and entrepreneurial support while studying. Experts have increasingly called for stronger collaboration between higher education institutions and private companies to create practical employment pathways for young people.

The Takealot Township Economy Initiative also aligns with broader efforts to strengthen participation in the digital economy, particularly among youth and township communities. South Africa's e-commerce sector has experienced rapid growth in recent years, creating new opportunities in logistics, delivery services, digital retail, online entrepreneurship, and technology-driven employment.

Officials believe programmes such as this can help students gain practical exposure to modern economic sectors while reducing financial pressures that often affect academic performance and student retention.

The initiative further reflects growing recognition of the role that work-integrated learning, digital entrepreneurship, and flexible employment models can play in supporting student success and economic empowerment.

Education and labour market analysts note that combining accredited training, workplace exposure, and entrepreneurial opportunities may help bridge the gap between academic qualifications and real-world employment demands.

The DHET-Takealot partnership is also expected to contribute to broader national goals related to skills development, youth empowerment, digital inclusion, and economic transformation.

Government officials maintain that expanding innovative public-private partnerships will remain critical for improving graduate employability, supporting economic participation, and creating sustainable opportunities for South Africa's youth population.