The Kolisi Foundation, the nonprofit founded by Springbok captain Siya Kolisi, has issued a stark warning that South Africa's young people are being crushed by multiple simultaneous crises. The organisation said the convergence of unemployment, food insecurity, and inadequate educational infrastructure is creating what it described as an unbearable burden on the country's youth.
Foundation Names Three Overlapping Crises
According to the Kolisi Foundation, South Africa's youth are simultaneously grappling with unemployment rates that remain among the highest in the world, persistent food insecurity affecting millions of households, and a schooling system that continues to fail large portions of the population. The foundation highlighted that these three crises do not exist in isolation but feed into one another, creating a cycle of disadvantage that is difficult to escape.
Kolisi, who captained South Africa to Rugby World Cup victory in 2019 and 2023, established the foundation in 2020 with a focus on community development and youth empowerment. The organisation runs programmes across multiple provinces, providing meals, educational support, and sporting opportunities to young South Africans in under-resourced areas.
Youth Unemployment at Crisis Levels
South Africa's official unemployment rate for people aged 15 to 34 has repeatedly topped 40 percent in recent years, leaving millions of young South Africans without income or prospects. The Kolisi Foundation pointed specifically to this demographic as being at greatest risk of falling permanently out of the formal economy.
The consequences extend beyond individual hardship. Communities across Gauteng, KwaZulu-Natal, and the Eastern Cape report rising levels of desperation among young people with no clear pathway to employment or further education. The foundation said it has witnessed this struggle directly through its outreach programmes in schools and neighbourhoods that have received little government support.
Food Insecurity Compounds Educational Gaps
Alongside unemployment, the Kolisi Foundation flagged food insecurity as a crisis that directly undermines young people's ability to learn and develop skills. Millions of South African children attend school without having eaten a proper meal, affecting their concentration, attendance, and long-term academic outcomes.
The foundation currently feeds thousands of children daily through its nutrition programmes, but organisers said the scale of need far exceeds what any single nonprofit can address. Without consistent meals, the organisation argued, young people cannot benefit from educational opportunities, effectively trapping them in a cycle of poverty.
Calls for Coordinated Government Response
The Kolisi Foundation stopped short of directly criticising specific government policies but made clear that addressing youth crises requires a coordinated national effort. The organisation called on South Africa's leaders to treat the overlapping challenges facing young people as an emergency requiring immediate and sustained attention.
This is not the first time the foundation has spoken publicly about systemic issues affecting South African youth. Siya Kolisi has frequently used his profile as a world-renowned athlete to draw attention to inequality and deprivation in his home country, describing the foundation's work as a way to give back to the communities that shaped him.
What Comes Next
The Kolisi Foundation is expected to release a detailed report on its findings in the coming months, with a particular focus on measurable outcomes from its existing programmes. The organisation has said it will use the data to advocate for greater investment in youth-focused interventions and to encourage partnerships between government, business, and civil society.
South Africans should watch for the foundation's annual impact review, which will include updated figures on the number of young people reached through its various initiatives. The report is likely to reignite debate about whether existing government programmes adequately address the depth of need identified by the organisation.
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Without consistent meals, the organisation argued, young people cannot benefit from educational opportunities, effectively trapping them in a cycle of poverty.Calls for Coordinated Government ResponseThe Kolisi Foundation stopped short of directly criticising specific government policies but made clear that addressing youth crises requires a coordinated national effort. The organisation called on South Africa's leaders to treat the overlapping challenges facing young people as an emergency requiring immediate and sustained attention.This is not the first time the foundation has spoken publicly about systemic issues affecting South African youth.
