Over 200 Matatiele youth begin Security and Entrepreneurship Training to tackle unemployment
More than 200 beneficiaries from across Matatiele, most of them young people, have begun a six-month training programme in General Security Officer (GSO) development and New Venture Creation. The initiative aims to unlock opportunities for employment, entrepreneurship, and safer communities.
The programme, driven by the Unemployment Insurance Fund (UIF) and the Eastern Cape Development Corporation (ECDC), blends accredited skills training with practical knowledge to prepare participants for future livelihoods. It also forms part of the Matatiele Local Municipality’s strategy to fight unemployment and address critical skills shortages by equipping residents to compete in the job market or start their own businesses.
This intervention comes at a crucial time. According to Statistics South Africa’s latest Quarterly Labour Force Survey (Q2 2025), the official unemployment rate has risen to 33.2%, while youth unemployment (ages 15–34) stands at a staggering 46.1%. Communities such as Matatiele are among the hardest hit, making localised training initiatives like this one essential.
One of the participants, Luyolo Mathangana, expressed his gratitude:
The training follows a recruitment drive in May that attracted over 800 applications, from which 200 candidates were selected. The overwhelming interest has encouraged the municipality to engage more public and private stakeholders to expand such opportunities in the future.
I am thankful and fortunate to be one of the learners. Already, we are learning how to protect people and property, manage risks, and conduct ourselves professionally. For those in business training, the programme is equipping us with skills to plan and manage companies. These certificates will open doors for us, whether through employment opportunities or by starting our own businesses.”
Reflecting on the programme, Mayor Cllr Patrick Stuurman highlighted its wider impact:
“This initiative is part of mobilising multi-stakeholder partnerships to tackle unemployment, upskill our people, and prepare them for both the job market and entrepreneurship. Those who qualify as security officers will be able to participate in projects within their wards and in the broader market, contributing to both livelihoods and community safety. By investing in our people today, we are shaping a safer, stronger, and more prosperous Matatiele.”
No tags for this post.
