Speech by the Minister of Finance
In this opening address to the 2026 Public Economics Conference, the Minister of Finance framed youth unemployment as a national crisis, with joblessness among 15 to 24-year-olds close to six in ten, he argued that South Africa cannot overcome it without faster, inclusive growth, credible public finances and capable institutions. He urged delegates, especially the participating students, to move beyond describing the problem to rigorously testing what works.
Presented by Enoch Godongwana, Minister of Finance, at the 2026 Public Economics Conference.
