Ithuba Youth Economic Development Programme 2026: Opportunities for Young People in Tshwane

The Ithuba Youth Economic Development Programme (IYEDP) is a youth empowerment initiative of the City of Tshwane aimed at helping young people access skills development, employment pathways, entrepreneurship support and opportunities to participate in the local economy.

The word “Ithuba” means “opportunity”, reflecting the programme's focus on creating practical pathways for young people to build skills, find work, start businesses and participate more meaningfully in Tshwane's economy. The official programme portal describes Ithuba as a comprehensive economic development programme covering skills development, economic growth and youth empowerment.

Follow WhatsApp Channel 

What Is the Ithuba Youth Economic Development Programme?

The Ithuba programme was launched by the City of Tshwane in 2026 as part of efforts to address youth unemployment and expand economic opportunities across the metropolitan area.

Rather than focusing on only one type of opportunity, the programme takes a broader approach by connecting young people to training, work-readiness support, internships, entrepreneurship opportunities, skilled-trade training, driver's licence assistance and supplier development.

The City has also partnered with organisations from the public, private and civil-society sectors to expand the opportunities available through Ithuba.

Who Can Register?

The official Ithuba registration portal states that registration is for youth aged 18 to 35 years.

Young people in this age group can create an account on the portal and provide their personal, contact and enterprise information before selecting relevant programme opportunities.

The programme is particularly relevant to young people who are:

• Looking for employment opportunities.
• Interested in gaining practical skills.
• Interested in artisan or technical careers.
• Looking for internships or work-readiness opportunities.
• Interested in starting or growing a business.
• Seeking assistance with obtaining a driver's licence.
• Interested in becoming suppliers to the City.
• Looking for opportunities to enter the economy through training and development.

Key Opportunities Available Through Ithuba

The official Ithuba portal identifies several key areas of support.

1. Skilled Trades

The programme provides access to opportunities in artisan and technician training.

This pathway is suitable for young people interested in developing practical technical skills that can support careers in skilled trades.

Artisan training can also provide a foundation for entrepreneurship and self-employment, particularly for young people who eventually want to establish their own businesses.

The City has previously used practical artisan training to develop skills in areas such as plumbing, electrical work, vehicle mechanics, welding, fitting and turning, boiler making and related technical fields.

2. Driver's Licence Support

Another important component is driver's licence support.

The official Ithuba website describes this as funding and support to help young people obtain a driver's licence.

A driver's licence can be an important employment enabler because it may allow young people to apply for a wider range of positions where driving is a requirement.

3. Business and Entrepreneurship

Ithuba also supports business development and entrepreneurship.

The programme aims to help young people turn business ideas into viable enterprises and improve their ability to participate in the economy.

This can be particularly useful for aspiring entrepreneurs who need assistance developing their ideas, understanding the business environment and identifying opportunities.

The City has also allocated initial funding towards youth entrepreneurship as part of the broader Ithuba initiative. In the 2026 State of the Capital Address, the City reported an initial R8 million allocation for youth entrepreneurship, with additional funding expected as the programme expands.

4. Work Readiness and Internships

The Work Readiness & Internships pillar focuses on helping young people prepare for the workplace.

According to the official portal, this includes:

• CV writing.
• Interview skills.
• Internships.
• Job placement support.

For young job seekers who have qualifications but limited workplace experience, this type of support can help bridge the gap between education and employment.

5. Supplier Development

Ithuba also provides support for young entrepreneurs who want to participate in supply-chain opportunities.

The programme aims to assist businesses in becoming registered suppliers for the City, helping young entrepreneurs understand and access procurement opportunities.

This is particularly relevant to youth-owned businesses looking to grow beyond informal trading and participate in formal procurement markets.

Ithuba's Focus on Youth Economic Participation

The programme is designed around the idea that youth development should go beyond simply helping young people find jobs.

The City describes Ithuba as a pathway that can help young people enter the economy, build businesses and develop in-demand skills.

This approach is important because young people may require different forms of support depending on their circumstances. One person may need an apprenticeship, while another may need work-readiness training, business support or help obtaining a driver's licence.

How Many Young People Have Registered?

The programme has attracted significant interest since its launch.

The City reported that 9,253 young people had registered by the end of July 2026, while more than 1,500 young people had already benefited from training, skills development or links to other opportunities through programme partners.

The programme was launched in February 2026, with Tshwane residents aged 18–35 invited to register online.

Partnerships Supporting the Programme

Ithuba is being implemented through partnerships involving government, private-sector organisations and other institutions.

Reported partners include the Small Enterprise Development and Finance Agency (SEDA), Takealot, National Youth Development Agency (NYDA), Microsoft South Africa, South African Mobile Devices Distributors and Repairers Association (SAMDDRA) and other organisations.

These partnerships help expand the range of training, business and employment opportunities available to participants.

For example, Microsoft South Africa has supported AI Fluency training, while SAMDDRA has been involved in cellphone repair technology training.

How to Register for Ithuba

Young people who meet the age requirement can register through the official Ithuba Youth Economic Development Programme portal.

Step 1: Visit the Official Portal

Ithuba Youth Economic Development Programme

Step 2: Create an Account

The registration portal allows eligible youth to create an account by providing:

• Username and password.
• Personal details.
• Contact information.
• Enterprise information, where applicable.
• Programme preferences.

Applicants can then review their information and submit their registration.

What Should Applicants Prepare?

Although requirements may differ depending on the specific opportunity selected, young people should keep their important information and supporting documents readily available.

It is advisable to have:

• South African ID or identification details.
• Updated contact information.
• An updated CV.
• Educational qualifications or school results.
• Relevant skills certificates.
• Business information, if applying for an entrepreneurship or supplier-development opportunity.

Applicants should only submit documents requested through the official registration process.

Current Opportunities

The official Ithuba opportunities portal allows registered users to browse available opportunities.

The platform can include opportunities from partner organisations and different economic sectors. The opportunities page currently features listings such as artisan and technical opportunities as well as business-development initiatives.

Because opportunities can open and close at different times, young people should check the portal regularly rather than relying on old social-media posts or outdated advertisements.

Important: Registration Does Not Guarantee Employment

Young people should understand that registering for Ithuba does not automatically guarantee a job, learnership, internship, funding or business opportunity.

Different opportunities have their own eligibility criteria, selection processes and closing dates. Applicants may therefore be assessed according to the requirements of the particular programme or opportunity they select.

Contact Details

For programme-related enquiries, the official portal lists:

Economic Development and Spatial Planning
6th Floor, Middestad Building
252 Thabo Sehume Street
Pretoria Central
0002

The Ithuba Youth Economic Development Programme provides a broad platform for young people in Tshwane to access skills training, work-readiness support, internships, entrepreneurship development, artisan training, driver's licence assistance and supplier-development opportunities.

Its biggest strength is that it does not treat youth economic participation as a one-size-fits-all issue. Instead, the programme creates different pathways for young people who want to work, learn a trade, start a business or gain access to the formal economy.

If you are between 18 and 35 years old and live in Tshwane, registering on the official Ithuba portal can help you access opportunities as they become available.

Official registration portal: