VW welcomes 540 youth through YES programme

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.

25 V Wyouth1

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.”

More Industry News stories

Isuzu’s ambitious plans for truck manufacturing in South Africa

Isuzu’s ambitious plans for truck manufacturing in South Africa

Isuzu Motors South Africa is positioning itself to become the primary manufacturing centre for commercial trucks across the African continent, a strategic move that could significantly boost production volumes while increasing the use of locally sourced components.

  • 21 August 2025
Kiara driving change, one pink truck at a time

Kiara driving change, one pink truck at a time

In a move that’s turning heads across the transport industry, Kiara Baijnath (photo), the founder and director of HerWay Logistics, is redefining what it means to be a woman in trucking by adding another pink Mercedes-Benz Actros 2645 to her fleet.

  • 21 August 2025