The Department of Science and Innovation (DSI) has committed to supporting technology innovations to help overcome the challenges facing unemployed Indigenous Knowledge Systems (IKS) graduates.

DSI deputy director-general of technology innovation Dr Mmboneni Muofhe last week said that despite IKS courses being offered in South Africa's higher education system, with many students graduating, graduates were unable to find employment in the sector.

Muofhe was delivering a keynote address on behalf of Science and Innovation Minister Blade Nzimande at the Virtual National Indigenous Knowledge Systems Job Summit.

He said the summit would explore decent work, productive employment and sustainable entrepreneurship prospects for IKS graduates, "cultivating grounds for grassroots innovation". 

“This job summit has brought together in a ‘one-stop’ fashion all relevant and related themes of IKS as drivers in the job market. It [also demonstrates] that the world’s cultural diversity can be localised."

The DSI collaborates with universities, science councils and other government departments on programmes and strategies that promote IKS in South Africa.

“The department has also facilitated the regulatory framework for the protection, promotion and management of indigenous knowledge and this has led to the IKS Act, which was signed by President Cyril Ramaphosa in August 2019."

Muofhe said the summit sought to explore innovative approaches to support public and private initiatives to create productive employment and sustainable entrepreneurship opportunities for IKS graduates through engaging various stakeholders in the public and private sectors, as well as various community organisations.

He added that a database of all unemployed IKS graduates needed to be compiled to assist government, in partnership with other stakeholders, to provide available and immediate intervention measures through work integrated learning, internships, job opportunities and training in entrepreneurship.

“The issue of graduate unemployment is not unique to South Africa and is a global phenomenon in countries like India, China and Europe. Decent work sums up the aspirations of people in their working lives.

"It involves opportunities for work that is productive and delivers a fair income, security in the workplace and social protection for families, better prospects for personal development and social integration, freedom for people to express their concerns, organise and participate in the decisions that affect their lives and equality of opportunity and treatment for all women and men," he commented.