As South Africa commemorates the legacy of Nelson Mandela through acts of service and meaningful change, youth@WORK will bring together business leaders, entrepreneurs, start-ups, SMMEs, strategic partners and young professionals for a powerful morning of dialogue, collaboration and action at the 67 Minutes of Impact Business Talk Indaba. 

Taking place on Friday, 24 July 2026, at the Morris Isaacson Centre for Music in Jabavu, Soweto, the event will be held under the theme: 

“From Partnership to Purpose – Building Stronger Businesses, Empowering Youth, Creating Lasting Change.” 

For more than a decade, youth@WORK has been committed to connecting young people with meaningful work opportunities while supporting businesses to grow through strategic partnerships. This year’s Mandela Day Business Talk Indaba will celebrate these partnerships while exploring innovative ways to strengthen South Africa’s entrepreneurial ecosystem and create sustainable pathways to youth employment. 

The 67-minute conversation will feature respected business leaders and long-standing youth@WORK partners who will share their experiences of building successful businesses while investing in young talent. The discussions will focus on practical solutions that strengthen partnerships, grow businesses and create lasting opportunities for unemployed youth. 

Key conversations will include: 

• The journey of partnership with youth@WORK and the impact of meaningful collaboration. 
• How salary-funded youth employment programmes have supported business growth, strengthened operations and created jobs. 
• Building stronger, more sustainable partnerships between businesses and youth@WORK. 
• The important role host sites can play in supporting youth@WORK alumni through employment opportunities, internships, mentorship, coaching, supplier development, networking and skills development. 

• New ideas and innovative opportunities to accelerate business growth while expanding access to meaningful employment for young South Africans. 

Inspired by Nelson Mandela’s belief that collaboration and service can transform communities, the event aims to move beyond conversation and inspire practical commitments that create lasting social and economic impact. 

“We believe that real change happens when businesses and communities work together with purpose. Through stronger partnerships, we can empower young people with opportunities while helping businesses grow sustainably. This Mandela Day, we invite our partners and the broader business community to join us in turning 67 minutes into a lifetime of impact.” 

Event Details 

Event: 67 Minutes of Impact Business Talk Indaba Theme: From Partnership to Purpose – Building Stronger Businesses, Empowering Youth, Creating Lasting Change Date: Friday, 24 July 2026 Time: 09:30 – 12:00 Venue: Morris Isaacson Centre for Music, 05551 Mtembu Street, Jabavu, Soweto 

Members of the media, business leaders, entrepreneurs, development partners and members of the public are encouraged to attend this inspiring conversation as South Africa continues to seek collaborative solutions to youth unemployment and inclusive economic growth. 

Together, we can transform partnerships into purpose, businesses into catalysts for change, and 67 minutes into a lifetime of opportunity.