TO THE POWER OF X² – NATIONAL TALENT ACTIVATION

TO THE POWER OF X²

Beyond 20 000 – Expanding National Graduate Absorption

South Africa has spoken.

Over 55 000 qualified university and TVET graduates have registered for the To the Power of X² internship programme.

Funding currently enables placement of 20 000 graduates into structured 24-month internships.

This means thousands of capable, qualified young professionals are ready to work, but additional absorption capacity is required.

Services SETA is therefore inviting employers to step forward as Strategic Co-Funding and Absorption Partners.

Why This Matters

Graduate unemployment remains one of the country’s most pressing economic challenges.

These graduates are not unqualified.
They are credentialed.
They are ready.
They are waiting for structured workplace exposure or employment opportunities.

Forward-looking organisations understand that:

• Talent shortages and graduate unemployment can be solved simultaneously
  • ESG commitments require measurable impact
  • Workforce pipelines must be built deliberately
  • National growth requires corporate participation

What Partnership Looks Like

Employers can participate in three ways:

1️⃣ Co-Fund Additional Interns

Partner with Services SETA to fund graduates beyond the initial 20 000 allocation.

2️⃣ Fully Fund Internship Placements

Absorb graduates directly under your own funding model using the Services SETA database and matching system.

3️⃣ Direct Employment Absorption

Recruit from the verified graduate database into permanent or fixed-term employment roles.

All graduates in the database have:
• Completed NQF Level 4–7 qualifications
• Submitted verified documentation
• Registered for structured workplace exposure
• Indicated provincial availability

Matching is coordinated centrally to ensure alignment with your workforce requirements.

Why Leading Employers Are Joining

• Secure early access to a national graduate talent pool
  • Strengthen transformation and youth employment impact
  • Build structured succession pipelines
  • Demonstrate visible ESG leadership
  • Convert corporate strategy into measurable economic participation

This is not a sponsorship drive.
It is a workforce strategy opportunity.

The Strategic Opportunity

The first 20 000 placements are funded.

The next phase depends on partnership.

If even a fraction of South Africa’s employers absorb or co-fund additional graduates, thousands more young professionals will move from unemployment into structured opportunity.

From learners to earners.
At scale.

Register as a Co-Funding or Absorption Partner

Complete the Strategic Employer Partnership Form to:

• Indicate how many graduates you can absorb
  • Specify funding or employment models
  • Access the verified graduate database
  • Initiate structured placement discussions

👉 REGISTER AS A PARTNER

FORM 1: Employer Hosting Registration

FORM 2: Employer Co-Funding / Top-Up Partnership

FORM 3: Employer Talent Access Registration

For strategic discussions:
📧 powerx@serviceseta.org.za