KwaZulu-Natal Premier, Honourable Thamsanqa Ntuli, delivered closing remarks during the second and final day of the Third Term KwaZulu-Natal Human Resource Development Council orientation held at Umhlanga Coastlands Hotel on Friday, 10 July 2026.
Premier Ntuli addressed the gathering in his capacity as Chairperson of the KZN Human Resource Development Council.
In his remarks, the Premier emphasised the importance of clearing blockages that fuel fragmentation and hinder coordination, accountability and capacity building within the skills development ecosystem.
He urged members of the Human Resource Development Council to focus on credible data and statistics that will assist the province in eradicating the misalignment and mismatch of skills required in the current employment sector.
“The time for sugar-coating issues is over. Now is the time to tell us the things we do not want to hear so that we can solve the pertinent issue of chronic unemployment among the youth, especially graduates. This chronic unemployment is a ticking time bomb, which when left unattended, will lead to our total destruction. Unemployment is a sore thumb and a painful thorn in the flesh of the province,” said Premier Ntuli.
Premier Ntuli congratulated the new members of the Human Resource Development Council, who were being orientated, for hitting the ground running in their new positions.
“This is the calibre of leaders that our Human Resource Development Council deserves. Leaders who are not afraid to tackle unemployment and skills challenges head-on,” said Premier Ntuli.
The Premier said the Council has a responsibility to provide practical, honest and evidence-based guidance that will help government, institutions of higher learning and industry respond to the unemployment crisis with greater urgency.
He further noted that skills development must be directly aligned with the lived realities of communities and the economic challenges facing the province.
In an effort to address issues related to the local economy, Premier Ntuli announced that he will be hosting a roundtable on the spaza shop economy. He said the roundtable will be aligned with the development of entrepreneurial skills and the broader objective of expanding opportunities for local economic participation.
“Human Resource Development cannot be pursued at the expense of lived realities that face our people on a daily basis,” said Premier Ntuli.
Premier Ntuli also said the topical issue of undocumented foreign nationals has laid bare the question of skills facing local citizens, particularly in relation to access to opportunities and participation in the economy.
The Premier concluded his remarks by urging Human Resource Development Council members to act with urgency in resolving the skills mismatch and misalignment facing KwaZulu-Natal and the country.
He said the Council must play a decisive role in building a skilled, responsive and competitive workforce capable of supporting economic growth, reducing unemployment and creating meaningful opportunities for young people across the province.