The Nelson Mandela Bay Business Chamber and Stellantis South Africa joined forces to address one of South Africa’s most pressing socio-economic challenges: youth unemployment. Through this philanthropic partnership, the two organisations aim to create pathways for young people to gain future-ready skills and access real employment opportunities. This collaboration reflects Stellantis’ global commitment to education, inclusion, and community upliftment, and the Chamber’s mission to drive inclusive economic growth in Nelson Mandela Bay.
Today, this shared vision has translated into a major milestone for the Youth Empowerment Programme (YEP).
In a city where opportunity often feels out of reach for many young people, the Chamber, in partnership with Stellantis South Africa, today marked a major milestone in its drive to empower youth by securing host companies for all 50 beneficiaries of its Youth Empowerment Programme (YEP), an initiative geared at training young people as digital process technicians, a new role aligned with the digitalisation of factory shop floors.
This breakthrough represents far more than a set of placements. It is a compelling demonstration of what strategic collaboration between business and civil society can achieve in addressing South Africa’s high youth unemployment.
According to Statistics South Africa, the national unemployment rate for young people aged 15 to 34 stood at 58,5% in the third quarter of 2025. While local figures for Nelson Mandela Bay are currently unavailable, these national trends highlight the urgent need for initiatives like the YEP, which create tangible pathways to employment and long-term economic participation.
The Youth Empowerment Programme has been piloted and enabled through a partnership between Stellantis South Africa and the Chamber, to bridge the technical skills gap through industry-led training. Innovative local manufacturing company Jendamark has served as the technical partner for the programme through its practical and forward-thinking approach to future-fit training.
Eighteen beneficiaries began their capacitation phase with Jendamark, supported by Volkswagen Group Africa (VWGA) for a 12-month period. As of today, the cohort of beneficiaries are transitioning to their respective host companies across the metro, moving from training into structured industry placements.
Following this initial phase, 17 additional participants formalised their placements through support from Purem and SJM Flex. This brings the total number of fully supported YEP beneficiaries to 39. The remaining placements have been secured through contributions from companies including Auto X, Autocast, Contitech, Teleperformance, Borbet SA, Lumotech, and Mertech.
The Youth Empowerment Programme, a strategic initiative of the Chamber to drive inclusive economic growth, equips young people with practical, industry-relevant experience aligned with the evolving needs of local businesses. It reflects the Chamber’s belief that investing in youth is not just a social imperative but a vital contribution to the region’s long-term economic resilience.
Commenting on the milestone, Denise van Huyssteen, Chief Executive Officer of the Nelson Mandela Bay Business Chamber, said:
“This achievement demonstrates the collective power of partnerships in driving skills which are in demand and building a stronger and more inclusive local economy. In an environment where youth unemployment remains one of South Africa’s most pressing socio-economic challenges, it is essential that we create practical pathways that take young people from the classroom to the workplace through relevant training, which meets the rapidly changing requirements of the world of work.
“Through this initiative, our focus is not only on training but on true empowerment, equipping young people with relevant skills, teaching them how to embrace 4IR and artificial intelligence as productivity tools, and providing real-world workplace experience and professional networks that enable them to become employable and self-sustaining contributors to the economy.
“The support of our member companies, including Volkswagen Group Africa, Stellantis South Africa, Jendamark, Purem, SJM Flex, Contitech, Auto X, Autocast, Teleperformance, Borbet SA, Lumotech, and Mertech, reflects the power of business collaboration in tackling systemic challenges such as unemployment.”
Mike Whitfield, Managing Director of Stellantis South Africa, added: “We are proud to support the Youth Empowerment Programme as part of Stellantis’ global commitment to creating positive impact in the communities where we operate. By investing in education and skills development, we aim to help young people unlock their potential and build sustainable futures. This initiative reflects our belief that empowering youth is not only a social responsibility but a strategic investment in long-term economic strength.”
“This intervention comes at a time when the need to equip young people with adaptable, future-ready skills has never been more urgent. As industries evolve and digitalisation accelerates, programmes like YEP ensure that youth are not left behind but rather positioned to thrive in a changing economic landscape.”
By integrating youth into host companies through structured internships, the Chamber is not only empowering individuals but also reinforcing the foundations of the local economy. Each placement represents a tangible step towards a more sustainable and inclusive growth model – one where skills development, innovation, and opportunity go hand in hand.
As a leading business advocacy and development organisation, the Nelson Mandela Bay Business Chamber continues to champion inclusive growth, skills development, and socio-economic transformation through initiatives such as the Youth Empowerment Programme. This milestone reflects the strength of partnership combining the Chamber’s local leadership with Stellantis’ global commitment to youth empowerment to deliver tangible opportunities for the Bay’s young people.
Stellantis is embarking on this effort, with its focus on education, to empower people and to build resilient communities with effects that can extend generations into the future. Additionally, Stellantis’ philanthropy vision and strategy are built on the company’s core pillars: Value, Care, and Tech.
