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.”