Basic Education Deputy Minister, Dr Reginah Mhaule, today, launched Democracy Month at the Spamplek Sports Grounds at Daggaskraal in the Gert Sibande Municipal District, Mpumalanga Province, as part of an Inter-departmental Career Choices Expo community services outreach engagement. The Career Expo Day, led by the Department of Basic Education, in collaboration with relevant departmental counterparts, saw engagements with learners, educators and parents as key actors within the schooling community in commemoration of Freedom Month.
The initiative responds to a request made by several entities focusing on the interests and well-being of learners, community leaders, the Portfolio Committee on Basic Education, and the DBE’s concern for the holistic well-being of learners. It also aligns with the call made by the President of the Republic of South Africa during his address at the 2026 Basic Education Sector Lekgotla urging the Department to conduct more Career Expos whilst working with key government departments and stakeholders to provide integrated services and career awareness activities.
In addition, key departments exhibited and rendered community services to equip learners to make informed career choices and to encourage them to pursue paths that contribute positively to society as a whole. The Department of Health was onsite to provide health screening services as part of the Integrated School Health Programme whilst the Department of Home Affairs was assisting with the registration of learners who are eligible to vote.
The engagement exposed learners to diverse career opportunities and relevant institutions, including entrepreneurship and small business development opportunities, capacitating School Governing Bodies, School Management Teams and Representative Councils of Learners, parents, and other school-based stakeholders. The engagement provided guidance on emerging trends and upcoming skills requirements relevant to the new age of technology and a world increasingly shaped by Artificial Intelligence. Learners were also introduced to entrepreneurship as a viable career pathway, highlighting how they can create jobs and economic opportunities within their own communities in line with national development.
Schools Democracy Month is observed annually during Freedom Month in April as part of the Schools Democracy Education Programme to promote civic education and electoral democracy literacy to young South Africans in public schools through democracy activities on the day. The Independent Electoral Commission (IEC) will again be joining the DBE in promoting electoral democracy literacy to young South Africans in public schools. According to the IEC, Civic Education is meant to empower young people with critical information to transform their communities for the better. There has to be a collaborative effort between Government and civil society to maximise the participation of young people in electoral processes, which is one of the most critical mechanisms used to sustain democracy. Schools Democracy remains a critical tool to strengthen democracy in communities.
The departments participating include, amongst others, the Presidency; the South African Police Service; the Departments of Women, Youth and Persons with Disabilities; Transport; the National Youth Development Agency; Justice and Constitutional Development; Communication and Digital Technologies; and Sport, Arts and Culture. Other participants represented included the Daggakraal Parliamentary Constituency Office and the Local House of Traditional Leaders Ka Moloi.