Education: key in unlocking South Africa's potential

     A former South African Finance minister, Trevor Manuel has said education must be valued and hard work is required to achieve success, at a time high unemployment rates in the country are increasingly being seen as a source of instability.
Addressing hundreds of pupils at the Youth Unemployment Prevention Project in Cape Town, Manuel said: "we have a common future and determination is needed to succeed".
He said education was "lifelong and there were no shortcuts, hard work is required".

The project aims to share several post-school opportunities to young people.
"Do not ever feel left behind," he said.
Manuel was South Africa's longest serving Finance minister between 1996 and 2009, serving under former Presidents' Nelson Mandela, Thabo Mbeki and Kgalema Motlanthe.
In 1996, his appointment to the high profile position in one of Africa's most advanced economies raised eyebrows from financial experts, citing his limited knowledge of finance.
Manuel, however astounded many critics and steered the country through rough waters and brought financial stability.
Unemployment
According to the World Economic Forum, WEF Global Risk 2014 report, South Africa has the third highest unemployment rate in the world for people between the ages of 15 to 24.
The report estimates that more than 50% of young South Africans between 15 and 24 are unemployed.
Since the 2008 recession, the youth unemployment rate has been consistently higher than that of adults, by more than 20 percentage points.
According to Statistics South Africa, while young adults made between 52% and 64% of the working population, they accounted for only 42% to 49% of the employed.
With such bleak statistics the young people attending the event are eager to take up opportunities.

"You have to continue and find different pathways to succeed and you will get there," Manuel said. 

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