Key Points
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Madonsela says the VUCA world narrative is misleading.
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She urges resilience, agility, and grit in leadership.
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Youth innovation is key to solving unemployment challenges.
Former Public Protector and Stellenbosch University Social Justice Chair Thuli Madonsela has dismissed the widespread belief that today’s era is uniquely defined by volatility, uncertainty, complexity, and ambiguity — known as VUCA.
Speaking at the Colliery Training College’s 60th anniversary in Emalahleni, she argued that portraying modern times as the most turbulent in history creates unnecessary fear, particularly among young people.
“We’ve been lied to that we live in the VUCA world. That’s a lie. Stone Age people lived in the VUCA world,” Madonsela said.
“There has never been a time when the world was not volatile, uncertain, complex, and ambiguous.”
She emphasized that while technology has accelerated change, fear-driven narratives risk paralyzing future generations.
Resilience, agility, and grit as leadership essentials
Madonsela urged leaders and communities to adopt resilience and adaptability as guiding values. She described agility as “moving fast,” resilience as “bouncing forward” instead of back, and grit as the ability to endure.
“Embrace technology as a partner, embrace community as a partner, and embrace uncertainty as a partner,” she advised.
The former public protector said these qualities are key to overcoming challenges such as unemployment, inequality, and poverty, which remain pressing issues in South Africa.
Youth innovation as a solution to unemployment crisis
Madonsela turned to South Africa’s economic struggles, warning that joblessness and inequality have reached alarming levels.
She noted that Emalahleni’s unemployment rate stands at 54 percent, while youth unemployment nationwide exceeds 60 percent.
Yet, she encouraged young people to see opportunities within these challenges. She called for innovation in renewable energy, stressing the need for youth-led solutions to avoid dependence on imported technologies.
“With coal, we manufactured our own. With green energy, unless our young people innovate, we risk becoming only consumers,” she said.
“This is an opportunity to partner with Eskom and the mining industry to shape inclusive growth.”
Founded in 1964, the Colliery Training College has played a central role in equipping young people with technical skills for six decades.
Its anniversary celebration highlighted the need for continued investment in training as South Africa navigates its energy transition.
