Digital citizenship and South Africa’s future: Building a generation of empowered, tech-savvy youth

The youth of 2025 are growing up in a hyperconnected world.

Yet many, particularly in South Africa, still lack access to the tools and knowledge that enable them to participate meaningfully in it.  

 Young people have the innate power to shape a nation’s future. Still, in a country where unemployment remains a challenge for this sector of the population, achieving this impact calls for interventions aimed at equipping both young learners and school leavers with the skills and tools for digital and economic inclusion. 

For this to happen, two questions need to be asked: First, how do we prepare our young people to thrive as responsible, skilled digital citizens? Then, are we equipping them to lead not only in South Africa but also on the global stage? 

Digital citizenship is about more than just being online 

While unequivocally a step in the right direction, becoming a digital citizen encompasses far more than owning a smartphone and having an internet connection.

It  is about having the skills and experience to engage safely online.

It’s also about using digital tools to address real-world problems, understanding how to safeguard personal data, and making a positive contribution to communities and the broader economy. In short, it’s the ability to empower individuals to thrive in the digital age. 

For a country like South Africa, where recent statistics indicate that more than 60% of the unemployed population is under the age of 24, building this capacity needs to be a priority.

The potential result of not doing so?

A generation of young people excluded not by their ability, but by their lack of opportunity.

This impacts employment opportunities and economic growth, creates pressure on the government, and results in lost productivity.

Accelerating digital inclusion has the potential to prevent this. 

Supporting the next generation of digital citizens 

The solution lies in the hands of the many stakeholders in South Africa’s future, from both the private and public sectors.

For Liquid Intelligent Technologies, this translates into using the tools and resources we already have at our disposal to empower young people.  

On the one hand, this means equipping youth  with future-facing technical skills, including coding, cloud computing, digital marketing, data analytics, cyber security, and AI literacy.

On the other hand, cultivating the essential soft skills required to navigate the digital world, including critical thinking, collaboration, and ethical decision-making, as well as practical business and entrepreneurial skills. 

In short, it’s understanding that we have a responsibility to create opportunities for youth to participate in and shape the future. 

Empowerment through innovation and skills development 

At Liquid, we have seen firsthand how digital access transforms lives. In the North West Province, our digital lab at Sempapa Secondary School has brought structured digital learning to a previously under-connected community. The outcome? Access to digital and computer literacy skills and courses, as well as new career aspirations.

In the Eastern Cape, where unemployment levels are particularly high, Liquid has invested in a host of initiatives aimed at fostering innovation and empowering citizens with digital and entrepreneurial skills.

These initiatives have provided hundreds of young people with hands-on training in cloud platforms, software tools, and career-readiness skills. We have also invested over R300 million into extending our network in the region, connecting more than 900 government buildings, and creating over 600 permanent and temporary jobs. 

Similarly, entrepreneurship-focused digital empowerment initiatives in Phokeng, also in the North West province, have shown that when youth are provided with digital tools and business support, they can launch entrepreneurial ventures, address community challenges, and become employers themselves.

These are not isolated efforts.

They are part of a longer-term, sustained effort to bring the digital economy closer to young people, especially those in rural and underserved communities.

They also demonstrate what’s possible when stakeholders take dedicated action. At Liquid South Africa, we are always open to partnering and supporting all enterprises in their business ventures as we build a more integrated and progressive society and economy.

Looking ahead: A collective responsibility 

Preparing Africa’s future workforce needs to be a collaborative effort by educators, civil society, policymakers, industry leaders, and communities.

As we finish commemorating the 2025 Youth Month, we’re reminded that when we invest in the digital empowerment of youth, we’re not just preparing workers; we're also empowering them to succeed.

By providing the digital skills and opportunities to thrive, we’re preparing leaders, innovators, and ordinary citizens for a better, more inclusive digital future. 

Valencia Risaba, Chief Corporate Affairs Officer at Liquid Intelligent Technologies South Africa.

BUSINESS REPORT

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