The Department of Higher Education and Training (DHET) and South Africa’s leading e-commerce company, Takealot Group, have signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) aimed at equipping young people with industry-relevant skills while opening new pathways into the digital economy.
The agreement, signed on Wednesday at Takealot’s Distribution Centre in Kempton Park, forms part of the Takealot Township Economy Initiative and will extend training, bursaries and e-commerce opportunities to students and young entrepreneurs across the country.
Deputy Minister of Higher Education and Training, Dr. Mimmy Gondwe, who officiated the signing, described the partnership as a practical step toward tackling youth unemployment through public-private collaboration.
“I would like to thank the Takealot Group for investing in my vision and going the extra mile to make this partnership happen,” Gondwe said. “This agreement is about creating education and training opportunities for students, while also supporting township businesses through e-commerce platforms. It is one of five such agreements my office has secured so far.”
Takealot CEO Frederik Zietsman said the MoU strengthens ongoing initiatives in Mpumalanga and Gauteng, now expanding them nationwide with clearer responsibilities and measurable targets.
“As a homegrown South African e-commerce business, we’re putting our platform, logistics and expertise to work alongside DHET’s priorities to accelerate skills development, job creation and inclusive growth,” Zietsman said. “We are committed to working with government and partners to advance digital inclusion and leverage e-commerce to change lives for the better.”
The MoU outlines four key focus areas:
- TVET and Community College adoption: Students will gain work-integrated learning placements at Takealot, applying classroom knowledge in logistics, technology and e-commerce. Takealot will also support curriculum development to ensure alignment with industry needs.
- Expansion of bursaries: Takealot will grow its bursary programme, with DHET matching funding, effectively doubling the number of students supported in high-demand fields such as ICT, logistics and retail.
- Textbook distribution: Takealot will use its logistics network to deliver textbooks efficiently to university and college campuses nationwide.
- SETAs collaboration: Sector Education and Training Authorities will work with Takealot to empower township entrepreneurs and SMEs. Through platforms like MrD, township-owned restaurants and small businesses will gain access to online markets and greater visibility.
To ensure accountability, a four-member steering committee has been established to oversee implementation.
The partnership comes at a critical time for South Africa, where youth unemployment remains among the highest in the world. By combining government policy, industry expertise and e-commerce opportunities, the initiative is expected to support skills development while creating sustainable pathways into the workforce.