Blue Table Talk Youth Take-over
5 Lessons from SA’s Young Hustlers
During Youth Month, SAICABiz Impact Podcast linked up with Blue Table Talk for a proper game changer, a Youth Takeover panel that didn’t just talk, it challenged. On the mic were four young movers and shakers, Noma, Mohammed, Luncedo, and Alunga, sharing how they turned failed modules and tough upbringings into real business wins. If you’re trying to make moves in a country where youth unemployment is sky high, their stories hit different. Let’s break it down.
62.4% Youth Unemployment: A dead end or detour?
So, here’s the stat: 62.4 percent of young South Africans don’t have jobs. That’s heavy. But instead of letting that get them down, our panel saw it as a wake-up call.
Noma didn’t wait for change. She created Authentically Real, a platform built to teach real life things school often skips: credit scores, how to start a business, and why networking isn’t just for corporate suits.
Real Talk: A big problem means a big gap, and gaps are where entrepreneurs thrive. Use that stat as motivation to start something that matters.
Know Your Why Before You Grind
Alunga’s story hit home for anyone who’s felt lost in their studies. He failed third year accounting because he had no clue what he was working towards. But when he realised Chartered Accountants could actually uplift whole communities, he re-enrolled with purpose this time.
“I failed my third year in accounting because I didn’t know why I was doing it. When I discovered the real impact of a CA, I re-enrolled in CTA with purpose.” — Alunga
Real Talk: Before you sign up for another course or degree, ask yourself, what’s the bigger picture? Purpose makes late nights and long hours worth it.
Failing Isn’t the End. It’s the Blueprint
Luncedo didn’t sugar-coat it. His early life? One meal a day. But those struggles gave him a thick skin and a mindset most business schools can’t teach.
“Younger people must be comfortable failing forward. Funders actually back entrepreneurs who have failed before, they’ve gained experience.” — Luncedo
Failure, he said, is proof you’ve tried. It builds street cred with investors because it shows you’ve learned what not to do.
Real Talk: Forget perfection. Build. Flop. Learn. Repeat. That’s how you win.
The Five Year Plan Beats Instant Results
Too many people give up on their ideas after a few months because the money isn’t coming fast enough. Luncedo had a better way to look at it:
“You need to be in your business for a minimum of five years, just like a baby takes time to walk. If you’re patient, the dots will connect.” — Luncedo
Real Talk: It’s a long game. Don’t quit halfway through. The reward comes from staying in the game when others tap out.
Solve a Real Problem, Not Just a Pretty App
Noma and Mohammed both agreed. Cool tech doesn’t mean much if it’s not solving an actual issue.
“Value first, solution second. Don’t fall in love with a solution. Fall in love with the problem you solve.” — Noma
And Mohammed dropped this gem:
“Abundance mindset. Don’t be so cost focused that you miss ten times the network and opportunity value.” — Mohammed
In other words, stop thinking small. Sometimes spending a bit more or showing up to that event opens doors you didn’t know existed.
Real Talk: Focus on what’s broken. Fix that. Then the rest, the money, the network, the growth, will follow.
Youth Day 2025 isn’t just a public holiday. It’s the reminder that this country needs what you’ve got. Whether it’s your story, your skill, or your side hustle, the time to start is now.
The five big takeaways:
- Let scary stats fuel your hustle.
- Purpose over paycheck.
- Fail forward. It’s part of the journey.
- Give your dream the five year treatment.
Solve real problems first, the solutions will follow.