June in South Africa is more than just a month on the calendar, it is a powerful reminder of the courage, creativity, and resilience that lives within our youth. Youth Month is a time when we reflect on the sacrifices of the youth of 1976, while turning our gaze forward to the promise of a new generation boldly reimagining the future. At the South African Broadcasting Corporation (SABC), we are proud to honour that spirit by partnering with platforms/initiatives that elevate youth potential and effort. One such powerful initiative is the Top 16 Youth-Owned Brands Awards (YOBAs) which took place on the 21st of June in Johannesburg, South Africa.
As the official media partner for the 2025 YOBAs, the SABC is committed to amplifying the voices, stories, and innovations of young entrepreneurs who are shaping our economy and the image of Africa. With our national footprint across 5 television channels and 19 radio stations, and through our digital platform streaming platform SABC+, we aim to shine a national spotlight on the trailblazers turning bold ideas into thriving businesses.
In a time when youth unemployment remains one of South Africa’s greatest socio-economic challenges, the YOBAs stand as a defiant celebration of young people who are not only surviving, but creating, innovating, and hiring. These are the dreamers, changemakers and doers – the self-starters in agriculture, apparel, media, tech, manufacturing and more. The ones who are rewriting the narrative of what is possible when youth are empowered and equipped.
At this year’s prestigious event, SABC Group CEO Nomsa Chabeli delivered a compelling keynote address that captured the spirit of the occasion. A visionary in African marketing and storytelling, she left the audience with a powerful call to action:
“Don’t just solve today’s problems – design tomorrow’s solutions.”
Our support of the YOBAs is not just symbolic, it is rooted in the SABC’s belief that storytelling is a tool for transformation. By showcasing youth excellence across 16 diverse categories, we are creating a platform that not only celebrates success but sparks new aspirations. Every story broadcasted, every interview aired, and every moment streamed becomes a source of motivation for a young person watching from a township in the Western Cape, a classroom in Limpopo, or an innovation hub in Gauteng. The YOBAs are more than awards, they are a call to action.
As a public broadcaster, the SABC recognises that we have a duty to be more than a mirror to society, instead we must also be a megaphone for progress. Through our SABC+ activation at the YOBAs, we are building new bridges between young creators and accessible media tools. We are inviting our audience not just to observe success, but to feel it, engage with it, and be inspired to pursue their own.
In celebrating youth excellence, we are investing in the future of our nation. Because when we give young people the platforms, recognition, and visibility they deserve, we do not just empower individuals – we also ignite entire communities.
This Youth Month, and every month after, the SABC reaffirms its commitment to telling the stories that matter, to being a partner in youth potential, and to building a media ecosystem where African excellence is always on air.
Let us continue to celebrate, support and amplify youth excellence – not only because it is June, but because the future demands it.
by the SABC Corporate Affairs Marketing Team
