Having a degree no longer a guarantee of employment
DAVID Lekomanyane, 26, is the first in his family to go to university and much was expected of him.
The family could not have been prouder when he completed his Bachelor of Technology degree in mining engineering at the University of Johannesburg in 2015.
It was supposed to be the beginning of a better life‚ but in reality it has heralded a new struggle for the Ermelo resident.
Lekomanyane has been unemployed for almost two years and a lack of experience seems to be his downfall‚ according to feedback from employers.
Most companies require a minimum three years of work experience, he said.
He has now managed to secure an internship starting in December with a mining company‚ where he will be earning about R2 000 a month.
But he is not the only young person in his position.
A recent report by the Centre for Development and Enterprise showed 7.5 million young South Africans are unemployed‚ not in training or education. The report points to a lack of entry-level jobs‚ poor education and training‚ plus the legacy of apartheid as some of the contributing factors increasing the number of unemployed youth.
It also said the number of people with degrees doubled between 1995 and 2011‚ but graduate unemployment remained under 10%.