The Tshwane University of Technology (TUT) will host a Job‑Seekers Empowerment Workshop on 19 March 2026 in Hatfield to equip unemployed graduates with practical skills to improve their job-market prospects.
The workshop, organised through TUT’s Institute for the Future of Work (IFoW) in collaboration with the Directorate of Cooperative Education and the Advancement and Partnerships Office, forms part of efforts to strengthen graduate readiness and workplace competitiveness.
The initiative comes as youth unemployment in South Africa reached 43.8% in the fourth quarter of 2025, leaving approximately 4.6 million young people aged 15–34 without work, according to Statistics South Africa.
The half-day session will focus on CV writing, interview preparation, workplace readiness and insights into recruitment processes. Organisers say the programme is designed to provide recent graduates, including those living with disabilities, with practical tools and confidence to navigate an increasingly competitive employment landscape.
Advanced Journalism graduate Mr Junior Ngoma from Mabopane said he has struggled to secure employment since completing his qualification at TUT in 2025.
“I have been applying for jobs but only receive rejections,” Mr Ngoma said. “I eventually decided to work as a driver for my cousin, who owns a butchery and catering business. Sometimes I ask myself what the point of spending four years and money at university is if I cannot find a job in the field I studied.”
Mr Ngoma said he continues to apply for positions in his field and remains hopeful that opportunities will arise.
Mr Brian Legodi, a Finance and Accounting (Public) graduate from TUT’s Ga-Rankuwa campus, said his path to permanent employment took several years. After graduating in 2010, he struggled to find work in his field and worked as a general labourer at a logistics company from 2012 to 2014.
In 2014, he secured an internship at the Department of Home Affairs, earning significantly less than his previous income. Following additional short-term contracts, including a role at the South African State Theatre, Mr Legodi secured a permanent position at the Department of Water and Sanitation in 2016.
“It took me six years to get the job I studied for, but I encourage graduates not to give up on their dreams,” he said.
Mr Jabulani Manganyi, a Policing graduate from TUT and resident of Soshanguve Block H, said strict recruitment requirements and limited vacancies remain major obstacles for many graduates.
“In order to get a job, you must first pass psychometric tests, fitness assessments and interviews,” Manganyi said.
He added that the limited number of available positions in his field makes securing employment particularly difficult.
“There are many graduates, but the opportunities are limited, so it is not easy to find employment.”
Mr Manganyi said he is currently exploring small business opportunities while continuing to search for work.
Registration for the workshop has since closed. Graduates who were unable to secure a place are encouraged to monitor official TUT communication platforms for future employability initiatives and similar support programmes.
