SPU’s 2025 Youth Dialogue was a powerful platform for young voices to rise, challenge and lead. Marking the end of a moving Youth Month campaign that featured real-life stories of SPU graduates and campus reflections linking the past to the present, this event embodied the spirit of “Skills for a Changing World – Empowering Youth for Meaningful Economic Participation.”
Held on Wednesday, 16 July 2025, the dialogue was amplified by four exceptional student voices:
- Lethabo Mmuiemang, BCom Economics student and Student Women Economic Empowerment Programme (SWEEP) President
- Calson Netshikulwe, BSc Honours in Data Science student and CEO of Short Right Technologies
- Boitumelo Toli, Advanced Diploma in Management student and SWEEP Deputy Chair
- Llewellyn Botha, Civil Engineering student (Northern Cape Urban TVET College) and founder of LJ Louis (PTY) LTD
The conversation was facilitated by Dr Gail Motlhaudi-Banda, Lecturer in Entrepreneurship in the Faculty of Economic and Management Sciences, and attended by students, staff, community members and online viewers via YouTube and Facebook.
Remembering the Legacy of 1976
Dr Karthigasen Gopalan, Senior Lecturer in History, opened in the programme by contextualising Youth Month through the lens of the 1976 Soweto Uprising and the Black Consciousness Movement. He reminded attendees that while gratitude for the past is important, the youth of today carry the baton – tasked with using their education to continue the struggle for a just and equitable society.
Unpacking the Real Issues
In a message of support, Student Representative Council President, Mx Nonofo Quinton Oliphant encouraged students to take up space, reminding them that today’s youth are not passive beneficiaries of change, but active drivers of it. He called on his peers to lead with purpose, challenge existing limitations and transform current struggles into stepping stones for innovation, economic inclusion and social justice.
The student-led panel then unpacked pressing youth issues:
- Youth Unemployment: Calson called attention to misaligned skillsets, urging young people to upskill with purpose and align with the National Development Plan and SDGs.
- Policy Accessibility: Lethabo challenged the implementation gap in government policies, advocating for simplified access through schools, higher education and municipalities.
- Skills Development: Boitumelo highlighted the need for practical, inclusive training programmes co-created by government and the private sector to prepare youth for real-world careers.
- Entrepreneurship and Adaptability: Llewellyn shared his entrepreneurial journey, stressing the importance of acquiring adaptable skills to meet evolving economic demands.
The panel discussion concluded with an engaging Q&A session.
A Call to Action
Dean of Student Affairs, Ms Nicole Morris, offered a compelling response that grounded the dialogue within SPU’s ongoing commitment to student centricity. She praised the student panellists for their courage and clarity, affirming the value of youth-led spaces in shaping conversations that matter. Drawing on themes of agency, access and adaptability, she stressed that education must be complemented by critical thinking, resilience and a sense of purpose to navigate and lead in a changing world.
She reminded students that SPU is more than a place of learning – it is a developmental space committed to their holistic growth. Highlighting institutional platforms such as the Centre for Entrepreneurship Development and Research, SWEEP and broader support from the Division of Student Affairs, she encouraged students to take full ownership of their journeys. “As youth, you are not just the future – you are the now. This dialogue shows us that when we listen to you, when we create space for your voices, we all move forward. So, continue to question, to challenge, to build. The university stands with you in that journey.”
You can watch the event on SPU’s official YouTube channel or Facebook page.
