To:The Minister of Higher Education, Science and Innovation, The Minister of Social Development, and The National Treasury

 

The Problem
Every year, thousands of young people invest years of hard work, intellect, and significant financial resources—often through personal loans, family savings, or national bursaries—to earn a university or college qualification. Higher education is promised as a pathway out of poverty, yet an unprecedented number of graduates now face chronic unemployment.
Seeing educated individuals struggle to survive severely undermines the perceived value of education in our communities. When young people watch graduates remain unemployed for years, it destroys morale, discourages academic ambition, and contributes directly to rising school dropout rates. Why stay in school if a degree leads to the same outcome as dropping out?
While existing initiatives like the R370 Social Relief of Distress (SRD) grant provide vital basic relief, they do not account for the unique economic potential and financial burden of higher education graduates.

The Proposal

We call on the government to collaborate with relevant departments and private sector partners to introduce a Graduates Empowerment Grant.

This targeted financial support program will serve as a launchpad for unemployed graduates, providing them with the basic leverage needed to transition into the economy—whether through active job searching, professional licensing, or starting micro-enterprises.

Why the Graduate Empowerment Grant Works? 

 Stimulates Entrepreneurship and Job Creation:

Many graduates possess innovative ideas and business plans but lack the initial capital to buy basic equipment, register a business, or build a prototype. A graduate grant provides the necessary leverage for young innovators to become employers rather than job seekers, directly tackling national unemployment.

 Restores the Value of Education:

 Investing in graduates sends a clear signal to youth that education matters. Demonstrating that the state values academic achievement will motivate high school students to stay in school, study hard, and complete their qualifications.

 Maximizes the Return on State Investment:

Government already invests heavily in primary, secondary, and tertiary education. Leaving qualified graduates idle wastes that investment. Providing a transitional grant ensures that the skills developed in universities and colleges are actively deployed into the economy.

 Reduces Barriers to Employment:

 Searching for a job costs money—transport for interviews, printing, data for applications, and professional certifications all require capital. This grant ensures qualified individuals aren't kept out of the workforce simply because they can't afford to apply.

 A Proven Precedent Exists:

The successful implementation and management of broad unemployment relief proves that the administrative framework for targeted grant distribution already exists. Extending a dedicated, temporary framework for graduates is entirely achievable through strategic budget reallocation and public-private partnerships.

 

Our Demand
We, the undersigned citizens, students, parents, and community members, petition the government to:
 1. Draft a feasibility framework for a dedicated, temporary Graduate Empowerment Grant targeted at unemployed degree and diploma holders.
 2. Incorporate business seed-funding pathways within the grant model so entrepreneurial graduates can pitch plans for additional capital investment.
 3. Engage with the private sector to create co-funded graduate programs, internships, and startup incubation channels paired with the grant.

Investing in our graduates is not an expense—it is an investment in the economic future, innovation, and stability of our nation.

 

Sign this petition today to demand that higher education leads to opportunity, not poverty.