• A new online jobs guidance portal has been launched by the South African government through the DHET.
• The portal aims to guide young people towards what career paths they would like to follow in their lives.
• It is yet another effort from government launched in the hopes of connecting youth with suitable employment.

The Department of Higher Education and Training (DHET) together with the Wholesale and Retail Sector Education and Training Authority (W&RSETA) have launched a new online portal that is said to help guide students and young people toward potential career paths in South Africa’s third-biggest sector, retail.

It is called the W&RSETA Online Career Guidance Toolkit and it can be found here. It offers career quizzes, help choosing subjects for learners from Grade 9 and upwards as well as a way to plan your career path.

We would have preferred if a link to the portal was easier to find, as we had to go to several different websites to find it, including a similar portal also from the DHET. Still, the government portal will help youngsters find some answers if they have absolutely no clue which jobs they should aspire towards in the future.

The government has even included a video where learners can go and get help on how to use the portal, which you can watch below.

“The Online Career Guidance Platform is an interactive digital resource aimed at providing career advice, skills development information, and learning pathways for youth and professionals in the wholesale and retail sector”, said W&RSETA CEO, Tom Mkhwanazi in an announcement.

DHET called the platform “game-changing” and says it will help young people to make informed decisions about their careers, with the objective of attracting new talent into the retail space.

“W&RSETA has demonstrated its commitment to career guidance, skills development, and economic transformation. As we look toward 2030, especially within the Medium-Term Development Plan lenses, we must continue strengthening partnerships between government, industry, and education institutions to ensure that every young South African has the tools and knowledge to succeed,” explained Deputy Minister Buti Manamela, pictured above, at the official launch of the portal.

In his address Deputy Minister @ButiManamela said “W&RSETA has demonstrated its commitment to career guidance, skills development, and economic transformation.”#FutureReadyWithW&RSETA#CareerGuidanceAtYourFingertips#Wholesale&RetailSETA#W&RSETAOnlineCareerGuidanceToolkit pic.twitter.com/kMgojIO8B4

— HigherEduTrainingZA (@HigherEduGovZA) March 14, 2025

In efforts to address rampant unemployment in South Africa, which is nearing 50 percent for young people in the country as of 2024, the South African government has continued to launch efforts into connecting youth with jobs, with varying levels of success.

In February, the Department of Labour launched advertisements for 10 000 new interns to join its occupational health and safety program, with a further 10 000 internships expected to be announced next year.

[Image – DHET on X]