‘Unjust’ Transition for Youth in South Africa

This policy brief examines the 'unjust' nature of the energy transition for youth in South Africa's Steve Tshwete Local Municipality (STLM). It argues that while the transition from fossil fuels to renewable energy is necessary, young people are being marginalised through exclusionary land allocation policies, a lack of sustainable employment following the closure of coal-fired power stations, and the limited scope of renewable energy projects that fail to provide meaningful skills or long-term job security.

• Youth in the Steve Tshwete Local Municipality (STLM) are systematically excluded from land ownership due to municipal disposal conditions that favour the wealthy and historically privileged. Specifically, requirements for market-value payments, 50 per cent deposits, and previous property ownership exclude unemployed youth and those from black communities affected by apartheid-era policies. Additionally, a six-month residency requirement is difficult for mobile youth seeking work to meet.
• The decommissioning of the Komati Power Station, completed in October 2022 as part of Eskom's 2035 strategic plan, has severely impacted local livelihoods. The closure affected approximately 14,000 coal mines and numerous workers across the value chain. Consequently, youth in Komati have been forced into unstable, short-term employment, such as cleaning the plant or working in car washes and hair salons, which do not provide financial stability.
• Renewable energy initiatives in Doornkop, such as the solar panel installation for domestic and street lighting, are insufficient in scale and depth. The project covers 2,700 households, which is only about a quarter of the 12,000 households in STLM's four informal settlements. Furthermore, the employment provided to youth is superficial; they are only responsible for installing switches and receive only three days of training, which is inadequate for future employment.
• The Community Work Programme (CWP) in Doornkop fails to attract or benefit youth effectively. Participants receive a low stipend of R81 per day (R648 per month) for working eight days a month. The tasks, which include cleaning premises and assisting police or teachers, are viewed as lacking the necessary skills for youth to leverage for future career opportunities.
• South Africa faces a 'youth bulge' where a large cohort of young people cannot find employment, leading to economic exclusion. Nationally, the youth unemployment rate is 45.5 per cent, with over 10.3 million people aged 15–24 categorized as 'NEET' (not in employment, education or training).

APA

Kwena, M. (2025). ‘Unjust’ Transition for Youth in South Africa. Public Affairs Research Institute. https://pari.org.za/wp-content/uploads/2025/05/20250509_UnjustTransitionforYouth_PolicyBrief_MurialKwena.pdf

Chicago

Kwena, Murial. ‘Unjust’ Transition for Youth in South Africa. Public Affairs Research Institute, 2025. https://pari.org.za/wp-content/uploads/2025/05/20250509_UnjustTransitionforYouth_PolicyBrief_MurialKwena.pdf.

Wikipedia

{{cite report |last1=Kwena |first1=Murial |title=‘Unjust’ Transition for Youth in South Africa |publisher=Public Affairs Research Institute |date=April 2025 |url=https://pari.org.za/wp-content/uploads/2025/05/20250509_UnjustTransitionforYouth_PolicyBrief_MurialKwena.pdf |access-date=17 August 2026 |via=Climate Insights Directory}}

BibTeX

@techreport{kwena2025unjust, author = {Kwena, Murial}, title = {{‘Unjust’ Transition for Youth in South Africa}}, institution = {Public Affairs Research Institute}, year = {2025}, month = apr, url = {https://pari.org.za/wp-content/uploads/2025/05/20250509_UnjustTransitionforYouth_PolicyBrief_MurialKwena.pdf}, urldate = {2026-08-17}, note = {Indexed by Climate Insights Directory} }