Building brighter futures for unemployed youth in South Africa

BUSINESS NEWS - Youth unemployment in South Africa has reached crisis levels, with nearly half of 15 to 34-year-olds jobless and over 4.9 million young people unable to find work, most for more than a year.

This threatens not only the country’s economy but also the talent pipelines critical to fast-evolving industries like Property Technology, where adaptable, tech-savvy teams are essential.

Addressing this challenge requires more than job creation; it demands building real capability.

MRI Software’s LEAD SA internship programme, launched in 2025, is tackling this by equipping 17–21-year-olds with no prior work experience with technical, professional, and industry-specific skills.

Through twelve months of rotational placements, structured training, and coaching, interns gain the confidence and readiness to contribute meaningfully to the workplace.

As MRI Software Africa’s Managing Director, Mark Fairweather, explains, the initiative reflects MRI’s “Building Brighter” vision- creating smarter cities, empowered communities, and accessible opportunities.

LEAD SA is a tangible example of how the private sector can help alleviate unemployment, nurture future-ready talent, and build a brighter future for South Africa’s youth.

Should you wish to interview MRI Software Africa’s Managing Director, Mark Fairweather or Melissa Wessels, Director of Professional Services at MRI Software in Cape Town, please let me know and I will happily facilitate.

Building brighter futures in PropTech for unemployed youth in South Africa

The first job for many South Africans is a lifeline. Yet for millions of young people, that step remains out of reach. According to Statistics South Africa, 46.1% of 15 to 34-year-olds were unemployed in Q2 2025, with the figure climbing to 62.4% for those aged 15 to 24.

More than 4.9 million young South Africans are without work, and 75.7% of them have been jobless for a year or longer.

This risk isn’t only economic. Long-term unemployment weakens industry skills pipelines and makes the eventual transition to work harder.

For sectors like Property Technology, where the pace of change demands adaptable, tech-savvy teams, the absence of young talent entering the market poses a challenge.

Solving this challenge means addressing not only job creation but also building capability. This is why targeted internships are emerging to equip school-leavers with the technical and sector-specific skills employers need.

One such internship targets 17 to 21-year-olds with no prior work experience. Throughout the LEAD SA programme piloted by MRI Software in 2025, interns rotate across different functions. From client services to data operations, interns gain a broad view of how PropTech businesses operate over twelve months.

Each week includes structured skills development to support the understanding of industry workflows and operations, with coaching in professional communication and problem-solving.

Mark Fairweather, Managing Director of MRI Software Africa, explains: “Building Brighter is a vision at MRI to create a brighter future. That means smarter cities, empowered communities, sustainable developments, and more accessible opportunities. PropTech is the enabler of this brighter future in South Africa.”

The latest NEET (Not in Employment, Education or Training) data is clear proof of the growing urgency: 37.1% of South Africans aged 15 to 24 and 45.1% aged 15 to 34, are disconnected from both the labour market and learning pathways. Without intervention, those numbers could slide into generational unemployment.

This is a real opportunity for the PropTech industry to step forward. By offering initiatives like LEAD SA to the youngest job seekers, the private sector is creating a shift in unemployment and a brighter future for young South African talent.

Melissa Wessels, Director of Professional Services at MRI Software in Cape Town, adds: “We launched MRI SA LEAD to create real access for young people, communities, and the industry. Through the programme’s three pillars, we are empowering individuals through personal growth, building product and platform mastery, and developing future-ready skills. We’re equipping interns to contribute from day one and to grow well beyond it.”

Mark Fairweather and Melissa Wessels.