Young Stunna Ignites YES Cohort Welcome as Nedbank Creates Opportunities for Young South Africans
A spectacular performance by Amapiano star Young Stunna had the audience in raptures as Nedbank formally welcomed its 2026 YES cohort.
Nedbank formally welcomed its 2026 Youth Employment Service (YES) cohort at the bank’s Sandton headquarters, reaffirming its commitment to tackling youth unemployment and creating meaningful opportunities for young South Africans through workplace experience, skills development and mentorship.
Under the theme “Team Green believes in YOUth”, the event on Friday, 17 July, marked the start of a transformative journey for 2,150 young people participating in the programme.
The atmosphere was electric from the outset, with Amapiano singer and songwriter Young Stunna, whose real name is Sandile Fortune Msimango, delivering a high-energy performance that left the audience in raptures. His dynamic set provided a memorable and uplifting welcome for the new cohort, setting an inspirational tone for the day and underscoring the excitement and optimism surrounding the programme.
As part of their 12-month work experience, participants will be placed in internal roles across Nedbank and through implementation partners, broadening the programme’s reach and impact across South Africa.
Investing in South Africa’s Future
Since joining the YES initiative in 2019, Nedbank has helped create more than 19,000 one-year work opportunities for young South Africans.
Addressing the YES Youth, Jason Quinn, Group Chief Executive of Nedbank, encouraged the young participants to embrace financial planning and make the most of the opportunity ahead.
“At Nedbank, we don’t just talk about youth empowerment—we invest in it. Today’s YES Youth cohort represents new energy, fresh thinking and the future of our organisation and our country,” he said.
Daniel Mminele, Chairperson of the Nedbank Group Board, highlighted the economic significance of youth employment.
“Addressing youth unemployment is not only a social responsibility; it is a business imperative. South Africa’s future economic growth depends on creating pathways for young people to participate meaningfully in the economy,” he said.
Ravi Naidoo, YES CEO, shared words of encouragement and highlighted the importance of embracing growth opportunities, building confidence and making the most of the journey ahead.
He added that the YES programme exists to create real work experiences that give young people confidence, capability and opportunity.
“Partnerships such as the one between YES and Nedbank demonstrate what is possible when business leads with purpose,” he said.
Alumni Success Stories Inspire the Next Generation
A key highlight of the event was a panel discussion featuring successful YES alumni, including Microsoft Power Platform Specialist Thabo Lekgwathi, Benefits Specialist Thato Khuele, Retail Banker in the contact centre Molemo Matome, and Product Analyst Zinhle Zungu.
Sharing their personal journeys, the alumni reflected on how the programme helped them build confidence, overcome challenges, strengthen professional skills and unlock career opportunities.
Their stories reinforced a central message of the day: the YES Programme is more than a placement; it is a platform for transformation that enables young people to turn opportunity into long-term career growth.
Adding to the day’s inspiration was an address by Zoya Mabuto Mokodito, founder of ZoyaSpeaks, who motivated participants to find and use their voices, embrace leadership opportunities and pursue personal growth with confidence and purpose.
South Africa’s youth unemployment challenge requires collective action from government, business and civil society. As the country’s leading youth employment initiative, YES continues to demonstrate the value of public-private partnerships in expanding access to economic opportunity and preparing young people for the future of work.
As the new cohort begins its journey, it joins thousands of young South Africans who have benefited from the programme and taken meaningful steps towards building successful futures.
With Young Stunna’s rousing performance energising the crowd and powerful messages from business leaders, alumni and motivational speakers, the event served as a fitting and memorable launch for a new generation of YES participants ready to seize opportunities and shape their futures.
©Higher Education Media Services.