Days after South Africa’s G20 High-Level Intergenerational Roundtable wrapped up in Johannesburg, youth-led SMEs are calling on government and its agencies to turn high-level promises into on-the-ground impact.
While the summit, hosted under South Africa’s G20 Presidency by the National Youth Development Agency (NYDA), was heavy on ambition and speeches from Deputy President Paul Mashatile, the real story lies beyond the stage – a growing impatience among youth entrepreneurs hungry for capital, policy reform and access to markets.
At the heart of the discussions was a consistent thread: young SMEs are ready to lead, but still trapped by systemic barriers.
“We have heard the commitments. Now we want timelines,” said Ntombi Khumalo, who is the founder of a township food-tech start-up in Alexandra.
“Every day without action costs us opportunities and potential jobs.”
Her business, which connects local farmers to urban buyers via a mobile platform, is struggling to scale due to high marketing costs and limited funding streams.
The sentiment was echoed by Thabo Maseko, who runs renewable energy start-up Maseko Solutions Pty Ltd based in Tembisa.
“What we need is beyond exposure, we need investment, mentorship and platforms to test and pilot. Roundtables are great, but results are better,” said Maseko.
While the roundtable served as a valuable forum for engagement between youth and policymakers, including global G20 partners, it also exposed deep frustrations with the pace of implementation.
According to NYDA deputy chairperson Karabo Mohale the agency is aware of these pressures and was working on solutions.
“We are committed to ensuring youth-owned SMMEs not only survive but thrive,” she said, noting that access to finance and market linkages remained top of the agency’s focus.
The South African Youth Business Forum (SAYBF) praised the platform, but urged decisive follow-through.
“We’ve seen powerful declarations before,” said spokesperson Lebo Dlamini.
“The challenge is always in the delivery. Streamline the process, create digital dashboards to monitor uptake, and most importantly, build trust through transparency.”
Three demands have since emerged from the youth SME ecosystem: a fast-tracked youth-focused funding window; the establishment of national and provincial digital innovation hubs; and policy amendments to reduce bureaucratic barriers for new enterprises entering public procurement and trade networks.
As post-roundtable workshops and pilot projects are planned by NYDA in the coming weeks, all eyes are now on the government to act.
