While Afrika Tikkun welcomes the launch of the National Youth Development Agency’s (NYDA’s) R2.5 billion Youth Fund, the organisation warns that without fundamental reform in fund distribution and implementation support, the initiative risks falling short of the transformative impact that South Africa’s youth desperately need.
Marc Lubner, Afrika Tikkun Group Chief Executive Officer, acknowledges the significance of deploying substantial capital into youth development: “We the deployment of this substantial sum of money into a youth development fund. Small, startup businesses that have proven market demand require capital to fund growth – particularly working capital, which is often the difference between survival and collapse for emerging enterprises.”
However, the real test lies not in the announcement, but in execution. The fund represents a shift from the NYDA’s previous micro-grant model of up to R250,000 toward larger investments of R750,000 to R2 million, a welcome change that recognises the reality of business growth requirements.
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The Distribution Challenge: Lessons from Past Failures
Lubner highlights a persistent challenge that has plagued government funding initiatives: “There have been so many governmental initiatives where monies have been promised to viable business opportunities, but typically the monies never flow. This creates distrust amongst young entrepreneurs who believe that applications to government departments will either not be responded to at all, or if they are, will invariably be responded to far too late by which time the business opportunity has passed.”
The Hard Truth About Youth Unemployment
“With youth unemployment at 46.1% in Q1 2025, we cannot afford another bureaucratic bottleneck.” Young people need accessible capital, streamlined processes, and genuine support systems.
Afrika Tikkun’s Calls for Three Non-Negotiable Actions:
Partner with Civil Society for Distribution
“It’s critical that organisations like the NYDA work with civil society to give effect to appropriate distribution,” says Lubner. With an established relationship with the NYDA, Afrika Tikkun is uniquely positioned to bridge the gap between government funding and youth-led enterprises.
Standardise Basic Accounting Support
Most small businesses cannot afford professional accounting services, yet accountability is essential. “A standard operating model needs to be shared where small businesses can access very basic bookkeeping support services,” Lubner insists. These should be reviewed before subsequent funding phases are released.
Deploy Digital Mentorship at Scale
“Mentorship is critical for small businesses and can be provided through an online platform,” notes Lubner. “There are many retired individuals in the country that would make their services available if they believed their service was going to be appreciated and valued.”
The Bottom Line
This R2.5 billion fund can either be a game-changer or another missed opportunity. The difference will be determined by implementation speed, bureaucratic efficiency, and genuine partnership with organisations that are already in the trenches tackling youth unemployment daily.
Drawing on its longstanding partnership with the NYDA, Afrika Tikkun commits to working alongside the agency to ensure these funds reach viable youth-led enterprises – with the accountability frameworks and mentorship support systems that will give them a fighting chance at success.
Beyond Grants: A Cradle-to-Career Model
Unlike one-off funding interventions, Afrika Tikkun’s holistic Cradle-to-Career model addresses the root causes of youth unemployment through integrated early childhood development, education support, skills training, and entrepreneurship development. We’ve learned that sustainable employment creation requires building capability from the ground up – not just injecting capital at the endpoint.
South Africa’s youth cannot afford to wait another decade for promises to materialise. For more information, visit https://afrikatikkun.org/
