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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Learning New Ways to Build Peace
Written by: Thula Zondi For Anna De Wee, the Alternative to Violence Project (AVP) workshop created an opportunity to reflect on conflict, communication, and the role individuals can play in building safer communities. From left to right: Xolile 'Pro' Zulani (AVP...
Social Employment as a model for local impact
Written by: Thula Zondi In South Africa, public employment programmes are often seen as a temporary intervention, a stopgap measure intended to move people quickly into formal jobs or self-enterprise opportunities. . This logic fundamentally misunderstands the role...
Reflect. Reconnect. Reimagine: A Reflection on the SEF Round 4 Kick-off Workshop
Written by: Thula Zondi The Social Employment Fund’s (SEF) Round 4 Kick-off workshop took place from 12–13 November 2025 in Johannesburg, hosted by the Social Employment Network (SEN) in partnership with the Industrial Development Corporation (IDC). The two-day event...