Unemployment in South Africa, file photo

by AKANI CHAUKE
JOHANNESBURG – A TECHNOLOGY company has offered to upskill youths with digital skills, in endorsement of a programme by the South African government and businesses to address unemployment.

Hitachi Vantara South Africa (Pty) Ltd is helping to build a brighter future for today’s youth through the Youth Employment Service (YES) Programme, a joint initiative by private sector and government.

“Unemployment is a critical issue in South Africa,” said Charmaine Naicker, Hitachi Vantara’s Senior Human Resources Business Partner for Europe, Middle East and Africa (EMEA) Emerging Markets.

Youth unemployment in South Africa has reached an all-time high, a staggering 56,4 percent.

President Cyril Ramaphosa recently declared this a national crisis.

Keith Kenneth, Hitachi Vantara’s Sales Director and General Manager for South Africa, said, “We would like to play a purposeful role and contribute to government’s evolution in digital skills, ultimately transforming the workplace.”

To support YES, Hitachi Vantara will focus on advancing relevant skills in technologies such as cloud computing, advanced analytics, internet of things (IoT), robotic process automation, blockchain, artificial intelligence (AI), machine learning and data science.

“We are shifting the balance from traditional to futureproof skillsets, looking to young individuals with open minds where these new ideas can be implanted,” Naicker explained.

YES was established last year.

– CAJ News