Contributors: Thula Zondi | Margo le Roux | Pascale Du Toit
The Social Employment Fund (SEF) is helping bridge South Africa’s digital divide by combining meaningful work opportunities with digital skills development, connectivity, and access to technology. Through its network of Strategic Implementing Partners, the programme is equipping participants with the tools and knowledge needed to thrive in a digital economy while supporting community development across sectors such as education, healthcare, agriculture, community safety, and the creative industries.
From community Wi-Fi networks and digital mapping initiatives to digital health screenings and online learning platforms, the SEF is demonstrating how technology can create pathways to employment, entrepreneurship, and social impact. By placing digital inclusion at the centre of social employment, the programme is building a scalable model for empowering communities and enabling broader participation in South Africa’s economic future.
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Social Employment Network: Strengthening Pathways Beyond Participation
Written by: Thula Zondi The Social Employment Fund (SEF) Annual In-Person Workshop, convened by the Social Employment network on 6–7 May 2026 at the IDC Head Office in Sandton, brought together Strategic Implementing Partners (SIPs), government representatives, and...
Learning Brief: Building Safe, Resilient and Flourishing Communities
Building Safe, Resilient and Flourishing Communities is a learning brief developed by the Economic Development Partnership (EDP) through the Social Employment Network (SEN), drawing on the experiences of Social Employment Fund (SEF) partners working in the community...
Case Study: Siyavuna Abalimi Development Groundbreak
Contributors: Thula Zondi | Margo le Roux | Vuyolwetu Ntinzi The Siyavuna Abalimi Development Programme case study examines how the Social Employment Fund (SEF), together with Strategic Implementing Partners (SIPs), is supporting smallholder farmers and strengthening...






