
The legend is back - VW introduces updated Golf GTI
Volkswagen will introduce the updated Golf GTI to the South African market in the last quarter of 2025. Well over 2.3 million GTIs have been sold worldwide.
- Product News
- 2 September 2025
With its seventh consecutive intake of young unemployed graduates, Volkswagen Group Africa (VWGA) has reinforced its commitment to youth development through the Youth Employment Service (YES) programme.
The YES programme was initiated by the South African government in 2019 to alleviate youth unemployment. Since the programme’s inception, VWGA has supported the initiative by providing employment opportunities and work experience for youth at its sites, in addition to opportunities within the dealer network and SME partners.
In the 2025 intake, VWGA has welcomed 540 YES trainees, of whom 296 candidates will work within VWGA: 232 in Kariega, 62 in Gauteng and two in the Western Cape. Another 244 trainees will be deployed with external partners in October.
This intake brings the total number of YES trainees who have benefited from VWGA’s involvement in the programme to 3 650.
“We know that today’s youth will be tomorrow’s leaders, but we also believe in playing an active role in developing those leaders and innovators,” says Nonkqubela Maliza, VWGA’s Corporate and Government Affairs Director. “Through our participation in the YES programme, we want to offer youth the space to become economically active and gain invaluable skills on which they can build successful and fulfilling careers.”
The National Automobile Dealers Association (NADA) notes that August continued the positive trend for new-vehicle sales in South Africa, reflecting strong consumer demand and activity across the market.
Although the tariff clouds are gathering over the South African economy with serious implications for the local automotive export industry, local sales of new vehicles are soldiering on at a decent pace.
Automechanika Johannesburg successfully hosted its final CEO Breakfast for 2025 at the Kyalami Grand Prix Circuit, bringing together senior automotive industry leaders for strategic discussions as the co-located Festival of Motoring roared into life.