South Africa: Youth encouraged to equip themselves with education

«Our country needs more qualified financial executives, auditors and other specialised professionals with an accounting background,» he said.

Addressing the KwaZulu-Natal Association for the Advancement of Black Accountants of Southern Africa’s Annual Gala Dinner in KwaZulu-Natal, Deputy Minister Manamela said South Africa is facing numerous challenges that require thinking out of the box and finding lasting solutions — particularly in relation to economic growth, inequality and unemployment.

«Your skills are needed to ensure that organisations are well managed and also contribute to better management of the country-level and global-level financial systems.

«We need financial strategists, problem solvers and activists who will turn around situations where they work and make a difference to our society at large. We also need you to unleash your entrepreneurial skills, to start innovating and contributing to job creation and the rebuilding of the economy,» he said.

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Deputy Minister Manamela said there is a need to improve education within communities.

«We need to move beyond just basic literacy, which is the ability to read and write, to ensuring that our people get substantive training that will provide them with the right skills needed by the economy.»

He said government’s investment in technical and vocational training colleges is one of initiatives that seek to find alternative routes for people who might not have the requisite capabilities and resources to pursue university academic training.

«I hope and believe that you as professional accountants will share your skills with those people in areas like numeracy, basics of accounting and finance in order for them to manage their own lives and businesses better,» he said.