The Ithuba Youth Economic Development Programme (IYEDP) 2026 is a City of Tshwane initiative designed to help young people access skills development, employment opportunities, internships, entrepreneurship support, artisan training and other pathways into the economy.
The programme is aimed at young people between 18 and 35 years old in Tshwane. Instead of offering only one type of opportunity, Ithuba brings together several forms of youth economic support, including work-readiness programmes, skilled-trade training, driver’s licence assistance, business development and supplier-development opportunities.
Young people who meet the age requirements can register on the official Ithuba portal and explore opportunities as they become available.
What Is the Ithuba Youth Economic Development Programme?
The Ithuba Youth Economic Development Programme was launched by the City of Tshwane in 2026 to create practical economic opportunities for young people.
The name “Ithuba” means “opportunity”, reflecting the programme’s objective of helping young people develop skills, access employment pathways, start businesses and participate in the local economy.
The programme takes a broad approach to youth development. Depending on their circumstances and interests, participants may be able to access:
- Skills development and training.
- Artisan and technical training.
- Work-readiness support.
- Internship opportunities.
- Job placement support.
- Entrepreneurship development.
- Driver’s licence assistance.
- Supplier-development opportunities.
- Business and economic participation initiatives.
The programme is supported through partnerships involving government, private-sector organisations and other institutions.
Who Can Register for Ithuba?
The official registration portal indicates that the programme is aimed at youth aged 18 to 35 years.
The initiative may be particularly useful for young people who are:
- Looking for work.
- Unemployed and seeking workplace experience.
- Interested in internships.
- Interested in artisan or technical careers.
- Looking for skills training.
- Interested in starting or growing a business.
- Looking for driver’s licence support.
- Interested in becoming suppliers to the City.
- Seeking opportunities to participate in the formal economy.
Registration does not mean that every applicant will automatically receive a job, internship, funding or training opportunity. Individual opportunities may have their own requirements and selection processes.
What Opportunities Are Available Through Ithuba?
One of the main advantages of the Ithuba programme is the range of pathways available to registered youth.
1. Artisan and Skilled-Trades Training
Ithuba provides opportunities linked to artisan and technician training.
This pathway is suitable for young people who prefer practical and technical careers.
Areas associated with artisan development may include fields such as:
- Plumbing.
- Electrical work.
- Welding.
- Vehicle mechanics.
- Fitting and turning.
- Boiler making.
- Other technical trades.
Developing a trade can provide a pathway into employment while also giving young people skills that can eventually be used to establish their own businesses.
2. Driver’s Licence Support
Another component of Ithuba is driver’s licence assistance.
The programme describes this as support and funding intended to help eligible young people obtain a driver’s licence.
Having a driver’s licence can improve access to employment because some vacancies require applicants to be able to drive or travel between different work locations.
Young people interested in this type of support should check the official Ithuba portal for the specific requirements and opportunities available at the time of application.
3. Entrepreneurship and Business Development
Ithuba also focuses on youth entrepreneurship and business development.
Fresh listings:
The programme is intended to help young people develop business ideas and improve their ability to participate in the economy.
Entrepreneurship support may be useful for people who want to:
- Start a new business.
- Develop an existing business.
- Improve their business skills.
- Identify economic opportunities.
- Access formal markets.
- Explore supplier opportunities.
The City of Tshwane has also allocated funding towards youth entrepreneurship as part of the broader programme. The information supplied for the initiative indicates an initial R8 million allocation for youth entrepreneurship.
4. Work Readiness and Internships
The Work Readiness & Internships component is designed to help young people prepare for employment and gain practical workplace exposure.
Support may include:
- CV writing.
- Interview preparation.
- Internship opportunities.
- Job placement support.
- Workplace-readiness development.
This can be particularly valuable for graduates and other young job seekers who have qualifications but have not yet gained significant workplace experience.
5. Supplier Development
Ithuba also provides a pathway for young entrepreneurs interested in supplier development.
The programme aims to help businesses understand how they can become registered suppliers and participate in procurement opportunities.
This may be especially relevant to youth-owned businesses that want to move from informal trading into the formal economy.
Business owners should check the official programme for the latest supplier-development requirements and available opportunities.
Ithuba Programme and Youth Economic Development
The Ithuba programme is based on the idea that youth economic development should not be limited to finding people jobs.
Different young people need different types of support.
For example, one person may need an artisan qualification, while another may need an internship to gain workplace experience. Someone else may need business development assistance, driver’s licence support or help accessing formal procurement opportunities.
By bringing these pathways together, Ithuba aims to give young people more ways to participate in the economy.
How Many Young People Have Registered for Ithuba?
The programme has attracted considerable interest since its launch.
According to the information provided by the City of Tshwane, 9,253 young people had registered by the end of July 2026.
More than 1,500 young people had also benefited from training, skills development or connections to other opportunities through programme partners.
The programme was launched in February 2026, with Tshwane youth between the ages of 18 and 35 encouraged to register.
Organisations Supporting the Ithuba Programme
The City of Tshwane has worked with a number of organisations and partners to expand the opportunities available through Ithuba.
Reported partners include:
- Small Enterprise Development and Finance Agency (SEDA).
- Takealot.
- National Youth Development Agency (NYDA).
- Microsoft South Africa.
- South African Mobile Devices Distributors and Repairers Association (SAMDDRA).
- Other public, private-sector and civil-society organisations.
These partnerships can help provide access to different forms of training, technology, entrepreneurship support and economic opportunities.
For example, Microsoft South Africa has supported AI Fluency training, while SAMDDRA has been involved in cellphone repair technology training.
How to Register for the Ithuba Youth Economic Development Programme
Young people who meet the age requirement can register through the official Ithuba Youth Economic Development Programme portal.
Step 1: Visit the Official Ithuba Portal
Go to the official Ithuba Youth Economic Development Programme website and access the registration section.
Step 2: Create Your Account
Applicants can create an account by providing information such as:
- Username and password.
- Personal details.
- Contact information.
- Enterprise information, where applicable.
- Programme preferences.
Step 3: Complete Your Profile
Make sure the information on your profile is accurate and up to date.
Applicants should carefully check their contact details because programme-related communication may depend on the information provided during registration.
Step 4: Select Relevant Opportunities
Once registered, applicants can review available opportunities and identify programmes that match their interests, qualifications, skills and circumstances.
Step 5: Submit Applications Where Required
Registration may only create access to the platform. Individual opportunities can have separate application procedures, requirements and closing dates.
Always read the requirements of the specific opportunity before applying.
What Should You Have Ready Before Registering?
Requirements may vary depending on the opportunity selected, but applicants should consider having the following information available:
- South African ID details.
- Current contact information.
- Updated CV.
- Educational qualifications or school results.
- Skills certificates.
- Business information, if applicable.
- Relevant work experience information.
Do not upload or submit documents that are not requested by the official application platform.
How to Find Current Ithuba Opportunities
The Ithuba platform allows registered users to view available opportunities.
Because different programmes can open and close at different times, applicants should regularly check the official portal.
This is particularly important for opportunities involving:
- Artisan training.
- Internships.
- Skills development.
- Entrepreneurship.
- Supplier development.
- Driver’s licence assistance.
- Employment pathways.
Young people should avoid relying only on old Facebook, WhatsApp or social-media posts because opportunities and closing dates can change.
Does Registering for Ithuba Guarantee a Job?
No.
Registering for the Ithuba Youth Economic Development Programme does not automatically guarantee employment, an internship, learnership, funding, training or business support.
Each opportunity may have its own:
- Eligibility requirements.
- Application process.
- Selection criteria.
- Closing date.
- Number of available places.
Applicants should therefore treat registration as a way of accessing and being considered for relevant opportunities rather than as a guarantee of employment.
Ithuba Contact Details
The programme information provided lists the following contact location:
Economic Development and Spatial Planning
6th Floor, Middestad Building
252 Thabo Sehume Street
Pretoria Central
0002
For the most current contact information and programme announcements, applicants should use the official Ithuba portal.
Frequently Asked Questions About Ithuba
What is the Ithuba Youth Economic Development Programme?
Ithuba is a City of Tshwane youth economic development initiative that connects young people to opportunities involving skills training, employment pathways, internships, entrepreneurship, artisan development, driver’s licence support and supplier development.
Who can register for Ithuba?
The programme is aimed at young people aged 18 to 35 years. Specific opportunities may have additional eligibility requirements.
Is Ithuba only for unemployed people?
The programme is focused strongly on youth economic participation, employment and skills development. However, eligibility can differ between individual opportunities, so applicants should check the requirements for each listing.
Can graduates register for Ithuba?
Yes. Graduates may benefit from opportunities involving work readiness, internships, employment pathways and other forms of economic development, provided they meet the requirements of the specific opportunity.
Does Ithuba offer jobs?
Ithuba provides access to different economic and employment pathways, including work-readiness support, internships and opportunities from programme partners. However, registering does not guarantee a job.
Does Ithuba provide business support?
Yes. Entrepreneurship and supplier development are among the areas covered by the programme.
Where can I register for Ithuba?
Registration is available through the official Ithuba Youth Economic Development Programme portal.
Conclusion
The Ithuba Youth Economic Development Programme 2026 gives young people in Tshwane access to a wider range of opportunities than a traditional employment programme.
Through its different pathways, young people can explore skills training, artisan development, internships, work-readiness support, entrepreneurship, driver’s licence assistance and supplier development.
If you are 18 to 35 years old and interested in building your skills, finding work, gaining workplace experience or starting a business, registering on the Ithuba platform can put you in a better position to discover opportunities as they become available.
Most importantly, keep your profile and contact details up to date and check the official portal regularly. Individual opportunities may have different requirements and deadlines, so always read the specific opportunity information before applying.
Official Ithuba registration portal: https://iyedp.tshwane.gov.za/app-default