Premier

Yes, The Western Cape Government (WCG) has a clear, longstanding commitment to youth development, which is articulated through its evolving strategic frameworks. The government first articulated its dedicated policy response in the 2013 Western Cape Youth Development Strategy (YDS), which has since evolved and has now been integrated into the broader Provincial Strategic Plan (PSP) 2025–2030, with a continued focus on building youth agency, inclusion, and opportunity.

The Youth Development Strategy

The Western Cape Youth Development Strategy (YDS), introduced in 2013, was a comprehensive, evidence-based response to the challenges facing youth aged 10 to 24 years. It recognised youth as the “lifeblood of the province” and acknowledged the critical period of development between childhood and adulthood. The strategy was guided by a whole-of-society approach, premised on the belief that youth development is not the responsibility of government alone, but requires the collaboration of families, schools, communities, the private sector, and civil society.

The YDS was built around five strategic pillars:

1. Family Foundations: Strengthening parental capacity and support systems.
2. Education and Training: Improving literacy, numeracy, retention in school, and pathways to post-school opportunities.
3. Economic Opportunity: Creating improved access to work, internships, skills development, and financial literacy.
4. Identity and Belonging: Promoting positive role models, leadership development, and opportunities through arts, sport, and culture.
5. Reconnection: Targeting youth who are disconnected from education or employment, with interventions to support reintegration.

The overarching goal was that by the age of 25, youth would be “inspired, educated, responsible, independent, healthy, and productive citizens with positive social and familial relationships.”

2025–2030 Provincial Strategic Plan

While the 2013 YDS served as the foundational framework, the PSP 2025–2030 represents the next phase in the WCG’s approach to youth development. This strategic plan does not replace the intent of the YDS but rather builds on its vision by integrating youth development into a broader life-course and resident-centric model of governance.

The PSP 2025–2030 emphasizes “Youth Agency and Preparedness” as a core Integrated Impact Area, reflecting the importance of equipping youth to thrive and meaningfully participate in society. Youth development is addressed transversally across government departments through three of the four strategic portfolios:

• Growth for Jobs:  Preparing young people for work and entrepreneurship.
• Educated, Healthy & Caring Society: Ensuring access to quality education, healthcare, and psychosocial support.
• Safety: Creating safe communities where youth can flourish.

The PSP explicitly adopts a life course approach that highlights that youth transitions—such as school progression, mental health, employability, and avoiding risky behaviours—are key indicators of social progress, and therefore cross-cutting across Departments like Education (WCED), Health and Wellness (DoHW), Cultural Affairs and Sport (DCAS), Social Development (DSD, Police Oversight and Community Safety (POCS), and Economic Development and Tourism (DEDAT).

As a part of implementing the PSP, the WCG has incorporated a focus on youth development in the Growth for Jobs (G4J) strategy and the Safety Plan. The G4J strategy places a strong emphasis on empowering young people as a central pillar of inclusive economic growth. Through Priority Focus Area 7, the PSP seeks to improve outcomes for learners, entrepreneurs, and aspiring job seekers by investing in youth skills development, aligning education with economic opportunities, and creating pathways to employment in both formal and informal sectors. Young people are positioned as key agents of change in building a competitive and resilient economy by 2035.

Similarly, the Western Cape Safety Plan embeds youth development in its violence prevention approach by recognizing that building societal safety requires more than enforcement—it demands early intervention. The Safety Plan also promotes holistic, long-term strategies that reduce young people's exposure to violence, support family and school environments, and create protective factors that break the cycle of violence. Programmes targeting youth resilience, social cohesion, and opportunity are therefore essential components of the province’s safety vision.

Youth Development as a Budget Priority

The translation of this strategic plan into action is reflected in the 2025/26 Budget Circular 2, which guides departments to align their budgets with the PSP’s outcomes. Youth Development was selected as one of four themed Policy, Planning and Budgeting Engagements (PPBEs), alongside Community Safety, Infrastructure, and Climate Change.

As per Budget Circular 2:

• Youth development is treated as a transversal theme requiring collaboration across departments and levels of government.
• The themed engagement was co-led by the Minister of Cultural Affairs and Sport, with coordination support from the Department of the Premier and Provincial Treasury.
• Departments were required to report on:
  • Current and required budget allocations for youth development
  • Service delivery risks if youth programmes remain underfunded
  • Innovations and partnerships to extend impact
  • Clear outcomes and indicators over 3,5-, and 10-years using Theory of Change models

This approach reflects a shift from compliance-driven budgeting to evidence-based, outcome-focused investment in young people. The 2025/26 Youth Themed Budget Engagement outlined a structured approach with three tiers of investment in youth: Upstream Support, Transitions, and High-Risk Interventions. Each tier reflects a different point in the youth development journey and corresponds to specific programmes and budgeted interventions.

Upstream Support: Building Strong Foundations in Childhood

The Western Cape recognizes that youth outcomes are significantly shaped by what happens before age 10. Many long-term youth risks—such as violence, unemployment, or mental health struggles—can be traced back to early childhood experiences.

Key interventions include:

• Reading for meaning by age 10: YearBeyond’s literacy support and book distribution in ECD centres and libraries (DCAS).
• Nutrition and early stimulation: School feeding, ECD nutrition programmes (WCED), and the “First 1000 Days” initiative (DoHW).
• Caregiver support: Parenting programmes (WCED, DSD, DHW), including early identification of learning difficulties via the ISLES system.

Anticipated impact:

• Reduction in youth needing remedial or high-risk intervention later in life.
• Increased school readiness, literacy, and emotional resilience.
• Lower long-term cost burden on health and social protection systems.

Transitions: Supporting Young People at Key Turning Points

Transitions—between schools, from education to work, or into adult identity—are periods where many young people are likely to disengage. The PSP and youth planning framework prioritise supporting these moments through structured guidance, mental health support, and skill development.

Key interventions include:

• School-to-work pathways: Learnerships, bursaries (Masakh’iSizwe), graduate programmes (DoA, DOTP), and technical training (DEDAT sector pipelines in BPO, tourism, clothing).
• Mental health and peer support: Shukuma (WCED), Planet Youth (DoHW), competitive sports, and career clubs (DCAS).
• Support for school exits: Career advice, YeBo alumni pathways (DCAS), entrepreneurship programmes (DEDAT).

Anticipated impact:

• Decreased dropout rates and NEET (Not in Employment, Education, or Training) levels.
• Improved youth well-being and belonging.
• Long-term employment growth among programme participants.

High-Risk Interventions: Reconnecting Vulnerable Youth

This layer focuses on youth who have fallen through the cracks—facing exclusion due to trauma, crime, substance use, or undiagnosed special needs. These youth require more intensive, often costlier interventions.

Key interventions include:

• Chrysalis Academy (POCS): Holistic programme focusing on safety, wellness, leadership, and social reintegration.
• Youth Hubs and Cafes (DSD): Spaces for engagement, mentorship, and upskilling in high-risk communities.
• Substance abuse and gang prevention (POCS and DoHW): Peace Officer deployment, Safe Schools programme and integrated mental health support.
• Reintegration for youth with criminal records and support for re-engagement in education or economic activities.

Anticipated impact:

• Reduced youth crime, substance abuse, and reoffending.
• Youth reintegrated into the economy and society.
• Safer communities and stronger local leadership by formerly at-risk youth.