Stella Must Go: Youth unemployment soars under her leadership

There has been a steady decline and collapse of support for Small, Medium, and Micro Enterprises (SMMEs) under the leadership of Minister Stella Ndabeni-Abrahams since her appointment 1400 days ago. Her tenure has delivered frustration for millions of young South Africans, be they job seekers or job creators.

The recent appointment process for the Small Enterprise Ombud, which will be debated in Parliament today, is one more example of political patronage being placed ahead of championing SMMEs.

Instead of appointing a credible, independent voice to advocate for struggling entrepreneurs, the process has been marred by backroom deals and insider politics. The very office that is meant to protect SMMEs from government red tape and corruption is being used as a reward mechanism for loyal cadres.

Minister Ndabeni-Abrahams has presided over a department that has delivered little to nothing for SMMEs or the youth who rely on entrepreneurship for opportunity and survival. Despite numerous glossy presentations and photo ops, the facts speak for themselves:

• South Africa now has the highest youth unemployment rate in the world, with 4.7 million young people aged 15–34 not in employment, education, or training (NEET).
• In Q1 of 2025, the economy grew by a dismal 0.1%, confirming that the government's economic policy is directionless and anti-growth.
• Over 320,000 graduates remain unemployed, proving that education alone is not enough in a broken economy with no job pipeline and no enabling environment for new businesses.

Young entrepreneurs trying to start or grow businesses face insurmountable obstacles: late payments from the government, lack of access to capital, bureaucratic red tape, and no safety net when disputes arise. Instead of reforming the system to support these youth-led enterprises, the department is busy recycling political appointees and rehashing failed strategies.

It is time for Minister Ndabeni-Abrahams to step aside. South Africa needs a youth-focused, jobs-focused leader at the helm. Someone who understands the urgency of the unemployment crisis and who will fight for real reforms to unlock the full potential of the SMME sector.

BOSA calls for:

1. The immediate suspension of the current Ombud appointment process, pending a full review to ensure transparency and credibility.
2. The resignation or dismissal of Minister Ndabeni-Abrahams, whose track record has become a barrier to growth, not a driver of it.
3. The establishment of an independent SMME Red Tape Commission, led by private sector and youth representatives, to identify and remove the barriers preventing small business success.

South Africa’s young people are not lazy. They are not without ideas. They are without opportunity. If the government cannot get out of the way, it must be pushed out of the way.

It is time for Stella to go.

Roger Solomons - BOSA Spokesperson