News Bulletin of 28 August 2026, 11am

Business Partners Limited has launched a R150-million fund to help South African SMEs hire young people aged between 18 and 35.
The SME Youth Jobs Fund will provide qualifying businesses with between R250,000 and R2-million to cover labour costs for new employees for up to two years.
Business Partners expects the fund to support about 220 SMEs and create nearly 1,000 jobs, as youth unemployment remains high in South Africa.
Applications are now open to SMEs that have traded for at least two years and meet the fund’s eligibility requirements.

A climate project in Johannesburg has created 1,500 jobs, restored 489 hectares of land and planted 47,600 trees as it comes to an end.
The SUNCASA project, launched in 2024, worked in Johannesburg, Dire Dawa in Ethiopia and Kigali in Rwanda to reduce flood and climate risks and improve urban environments.
In Johannesburg, the project also removed 664 tonnes of waste from the Jukskei River, trained 200 workers and installed a flood-monitoring network to support early warnings.
The City of Johannesburg and its development partners say the work will help communities manage climate risks while protecting green spaces and supporting local livelihoods.

SOS Africa has opened a new skills academy near Sir Lowry’s Pass Village, in the Western Cape, with its first 20 trainees starting courses aimed at improving their chances of employment.
The academy offers practical training in fields including information technology, care work, hospitality, horticulture and entrepreneurship.
Its first two courses, launched this week with Edunova, focus on IT support and a QCTO-accredited care-worker qualification.
The academy plans to expand its courses and work with employers and training providers to give more unemployed young people skills and experience for the job market.