The speech was delivered by Paul Mashatile, the Deputy President of the Republic of South Africa.
He addressed the 5th Human Resource Development Council (HRDC) Summit held at the Gallagher Convention Centre in Midrand, Johannesburg.
The address serves as the formal launch of the Reconceptualised Human Resource Development Strategy 2025–2035, a ten-year blueprint designed to bridge the gap between policy intent and actual implementation.
Mashatile emphasizes that while South Africa has no shortage of plans, it suffers from a “vulnerability in implementation.”
To solve this, the strategy focuses on four catalytic goals: improving early schooling, boosting youth employability through short courses and workplace experience, aligning post-school training with the green and digital economies, and building a capable, ethical state.
Central to the speech is the call for a “social compact” a deep partnership between government, business, labour, and civil society. Mashatile argues that the government cannot drive development alone and requires collective accountability to address the high levels of youth unemployment and economic exclusion.
By signing the Summit Declaration, stakeholders commit to moving beyond compliance-based reporting toward active problem-solving. The ultimate aim is to ensure South Africans are active shapers of their futures in a rapidly changing world.
