GUGU LOURIE | A light-bulb moment to create meaningful work this Youth Month

Eskom is considering closing or reconfiguring the coal-fired power stations around my hometown, Bethal — a tiny Mpumalanga town of about 128,000 residents — which simply means fewer jobs for young people seeking employment. On the other hand, the R25bn-R35bn hybrid wind and solar facility currently being developed, already visible from afar when approaching Bethal, has not absorbed significant numbers of jobless youth. Young people in Bethal are eager to work, but the opportunities remain scarce. The lucky ones get employment at Sasol’s Secunda operation, the future of which hinges on a managed transition from a pure coal-based synthetic fuels facility to a lower-carbon chemical and energy hub. But not all hope is lost.