On 10 April 2026, the KwaZulu-Natal Legislature hosted a unique career exhibition in the deep rural area of Ezingolweni, at Dlovinga Hall in the Ray Nkonyeni Municipality, KwaZulu-Natal (KZN). This career expo was attended by young people, students and prospective students seeking as much information as possible about their future careers.

The career exhibition was held under the Social Responsibility Programme of the Legislature Speaker, Nontembeko Boyce, supported by the Deputy Minister of Mineral and Petroleum Resources, Phumzile Mgcina. It attracted an enthusiastic turnout of learners from across this vast rural area of southern KZN, near the Umthavuna River, which separates KZN from the Eastern Cape.

Prospective and current Unisa students, together with school learners, educators, government institutions and industry stakeholders, attended this event, where efforts were made to empower learners through meaningful career guidance.

Speaking at the event, Boyce said, "This career exhibition is about closing the gap between potential and opportunity. Too often, young people in rural areas are held back not by lack of ambition, but by lack of access. As the Legislature, we are committed to making sure every learner has the knowledge and support needed to make informed decisions about their future."

Deputy Minister of Mineral and Petroleum Resources, Phumzile Mgcina, and KwaZulu-Natal Legislature Speaker, Nontembeko Boyce

Unisa, as always, outshines all other tertiary institutions in attending these career expos because it is a comprehensive open distance e-learning (CODeL) institution and therefore accessible to many students who would otherwise not have an opportunity to receive a university education.

In attendance was Dr Joyce Myeza, KZN Regional Director, who said that Unisa fulfils a critical societal duty by uplifting communities that do not have as many opportunities to access post-school education, such as those in Ezingolweni.

Director of Unisa’s KwaZulu-Natal Region, Dr Joyce Myeza, and KwaZulu-Natal Legislature Speaker, Nontembeko Boyce

She emphasised that through Unisa’s catalytic niche areas, there are more study opportunities in key fields of study that could yield locally relevant and implementable research results, thus assisting in alleviating poverty and unemployment, especially in rural and underdeveloped communities across South Africa.

"The emphasis is always on encouraging school learners and prospective students to ensure that they apply, especially in the STEM streams," she said. "The university has observed that science, technology and engineering-related qualifications do not draw many applications from prospective students."

One of the many educators who visited the Unisa stand at the career exhibition was Sanele Jama, a Unisa alumnus currently pursuing a Master’s in Education at Unisa. This alumnus is currently the KZN Department of Education Circuit Manager for the Ezingolweni Circuit in the uGu District. Jama marvelled at how far Unisa has come from paper-based application processing and exam writing to digital excellence.

The success of this career exhibition highlights the importance of strong partnerships between government, academia and the private sector in tackling youth unemployment and advancing skills development.

* By Siyabonga Seme, Manager: Communication & Marketing: KwaZulu-Natal Region