Chikunga Pushes SA-UAE Youth Deal: What It Means For Ga-Rankuwa Youth

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Chikunga Pushes SA-UAE Youth Deal: What It Means For Ga-Rankuwa Youth

Visakhapatnam, India / Ga-Rankuwa Lens - Minister in the Presidency for Women, Youth and Persons with Disabilities, Sindisiwe Chikunga, has called for stronger South Africa - United Arab Emirates (UAE) cooperation on youth empowerment, skills, entrepreneurship and innovation.

Chikunga met UAE Minister of State for Youth Affairs, Dr Sultan bin Saif Al Neyadi, on the sidelines of the BRICS Youth Ministers' Meeting in Visakhapatnam, India, on Saturday, 22 August 2026.

BIRD'S EYE VIEW - WHAT WAS DISCUSSED:

The bilateral focused on:
- Exchange programmes
- Skills development and skills transfer
- Entrepreneurship and innovation
- Meaningful youth participation in development
- Inclusion of young persons with disabilities

"We are hoping that we can have more collaboration in the areas of exchange programmes, skills development and transfers, including entrepreneurship and innovation between the youth from both our countries," Chikunga said.

Chikunga outlined SA's youth framework - National Development Plan 2030 and National Youth Policy - which prioritises education, skills, economic participation, job creation, entrepreneurship, social cohesion and strengthening youth institutions like NYDA.

She also flagged the Solar Technology Training Programme (Solar Mamas) as an example of international partnership working - implemented with India’s FICCI FLO, Barefoot College, DMRE, EWSETA, CSIR and NYDA.

The BRICS Youth Ministers' Meeting ended with a joint statement on cooperation in youth development, education, skills, entrepreneurship, innovation, sports and social participation.

Delegates also joined the 'Ek Ped Maa Ke Naam' plantation drive, planting saplings in honour of their mothers.

GROUND VIEW - WHAT IT MEANS FOR GA-RANKUWA:

Commander, this is where it matters. For youth in Ga-Rankuwa, Mabopane, Soshanguve, Winterveld:

1. Skills, Not Just Speeches: If SA-UAE deal moves beyond MOU, Ga-Rankuwa TVET students, unemployed graduates, young artisans could access funded exchange programmes - solar tech, digital skills, aviation, hospitality - sectors where UAE is strong. Ga-Rankuwa Campus of TUT is ready arsenal.

2. Entrepreneurship Arsenal: UAE is a global hub for SME funding and innovation hubs. For young hustlers in Zone 1 to Zone 16 selling, braiding, fixing phones, coding - real opportunity is access to mentorship + market linkage, not just workshop certificates.

3. Disabilities Inclusion Must Be Real: Chikunga mentioned youth with disabilities. In Ga-Rankuwa, many young persons with disabilities are still locked out of learnerships. This cooperation must have a quota for them - not as afterthought.

4. Verification Question: Youth will ask - How to apply? When? Through NYDA? Department? TMGNEWS will monitor. No irregular expenditure on trips that don't reach Ga-Rankuwa.

TMGNEWS VERDICT:

Positive step internationally, but impact will be measured locally. If a young person in Ga-Rankuwa cannot access the application on free Wi-Fi at SASSA or Thusong Centre, then cooperation stays in Visakhapatnam.

We need: clear portal, local roadshows in Ga-Rankuwa, Soshanguve, Mabopane, and published beneficiaries list - bird's eye view with ground evidence.

TMGNEWS will follow up with DWYPD and NYDA for application details for Tshwane North youth.

Source: http://SAnews.gov.za