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The African Development Bank (www.AfDB.org), through the Fund for African Private Sector Assistance (FAPA), has awarded a $1 million grant to South Africa's National Business Initiative (NBI) to strengthen efforts to build a dynamic, demand-led skills ecosystem that enables South Africans, particularly young people, to access emerging job opportunities in the green economy. 

South Africa continues to face significant challenges in youth employment, with StatisticsSA (http://apo-opa.co/3I92YRD) reporting that 46.1% of young people aged 15 to 34 were unemployed in the first quarter of 2025.

The funding will support the country's Just Energy Transition Skilling for Employment Programme (JET SEP), led by the National Business Initiative in partnership with the management consultancy Boston Consulting Group. The initiative coordinates private sector efforts to prepare the workforce for the energy transition, in tandem with the government's JET Skilling Implementation Plan, focused on inclusive workforce development and sustainable job creation. 

Specifically, the grant will finance the programme's first phase, including feasibility studies for the design of skills development zones and capacity building within the public technical and vocational education and training system.  Skills development zones will anchor the delivery of inclusive skills and foster local economic growth during the country's just-energy transition.

Launched in 2024 and endorsed by the JET Project Management Unit under the presidency of the Government of South Africa, JET SEP has garnered support from over 30 influential South African CEOs, public sector leaders, and civil society leaders in the past year.   

Of the grant, Kennedy Mbekeani, African Development Bank Director General for Southern Africa, said: "By linking a strong private sector coalition – the engine for job creation – with government, academia, and NGOs, the FAPA grant will play a catalytic role to support informed policy decisions in skills development and labour market programmes. It will also strengthen skills development efforts for the growth of the Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises and the creation of jobs for youth in South Africa's green economy."   

The grant builds on the African Development Bank's significant investment in South Africa's energy sector. Since 2007, the Bank has invested $3.4 billion to support energy infrastructure, including renewable energy. The current grant will support the government's efforts to identify the skills needed for the sector, with a particular focus on renewable energy.

Shameela Soobramoney, CEO of the National Business Initiative, said: “This grant from the African Development Bank is a critical step toward turning vision into action, strengthening the national skills system, and ensuring that all South Africans are equipped to seize new opportunities in the green economy. We are proud to continue working alongside our partners and stakeholders to build an inclusive future-ready workforce and to stimulate local economies in a way that leaves no one behind.”

Distributed by APO Group on behalf of African Development Bank Group (AfDB).

Media contact:
African Development Bank:
Emeka Anuforo,
Communication and External Relations Department,
media@afdb.org  

NBI:
Siphokuhle Mkancu, 
IRM Engagement & Communications Manager:
Economic Inclusion,
SiphokuhleM@nbi.org.za,
+27 76 1292 511 

About the African Development Bank Group:
The African Development Bank Group is Africa's premier development finance institution. It comprises three distinct entities: the African Development Bank (AfDB), the African Development Fund (ADF) and the Nigeria Trust Fund (NTF). On the ground in 41 African countries with an external office in Japan, the Bank contributes to the economic development and the social progress of its 54 regional member states. For more information: www.AfDB.org

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The Portfolio Committee on Defence and Military Veterans has expressed deep concern over the ongoing challenges faced by military veterans, many of whom remain in limbo due to delays in receiving their service-related benefits from the Department of Military Veterans (DMV).

During a briefing today on the amended Strategic Plans, annual performance plans, and the 2025/26 Budget of the DMV and the Castle Control Board (CCB), the committee stressed that the absence of a permanent Director-General undermines the department's ability to deliver on its mandate and to manage its budget effectively. The committee also highlighted the dysfunctional organisational structure as a major frustration.

Committee Chairperson, Mr Dakota Legoete, said: “We urgently need the appointment of a Director-General. The current Acting Director General is uncertain about her future, which compromises accountability and decision making. The continued delays in making this appointment destabilise the department and make it difficult for us, as the oversight committee, to track the department's expenditure and performance.”

The committee said it was sad that the DMV through its inability to put its stakeholders first continued to return unspent funds back to National Treasury. Members of the committee pointed out that on various occasions veterans were reaching out to them complaining after waiting for more than a year for their benefits.

Of specific concern is the roll-out of the pension benefit where it appears that the DMV and implementing agent, the Government Pensions Administration Agency, appear to lack a coherent and responsive plan to serve them. The committee also raised serious concerns about the DMV's failure to establish a functioning internal audit unit which is an essential tool for financial accountability and risk management.

The committee highlighted the need for urgent intervention by the executive to turn around the DMV, starting with the appointment of a permanent Director-General, re-evaluating the organisational structure, addressing the findings of the Auditor-General and developing a more responsive department.

Distributed by APO Group on behalf of Republic of South Africa: The Parliament.