Johannesburg, South Africa – 27 October 2026 — HONOR Technologies Africa celebrates the graduation of young South Africans who have completed its learnership programme, marking an important milestone in the company’s ongoing commitment to youth development, skills development and creating pathways from learning to employment.
The graduation lunch took place at the Birchwood Hotel in Johannesburg, bringing together HONOR leadership, government stakeholders, partners and the graduating learners to recognise their achievements and reflect on the importance of creating meaningful opportunities for young people.
The programme was addressed by Khusela Diko, Chairperson of Parliament’s Portfolio Committee on Communications and Digital Technologies who delivered the keynote address.
As part of HONOR’s dedication to youth development and economic empowerment, the company sponsored the learners’ stipends for the duration of their 12-month learnerships. Importantly, HONOR made a deliberate decision to provide stipends at a level more commonly associated with corporate internship programmes, rather than the standard learnership rate.
This decision reflects HONOR’s belief that supporting young people goes beyond providing an opportunity. It is also about creating an environment in which they can participate with dignity, stability and a genuine opportunity to develop their skills and build sustainable careers.
For HONOR, the programme forms part of a broader devotion to using technology, partnerships and corporate citizenship to contribute to inclusive economic participation and youth empowerment in South Africa.
Fred Zhou, CEO of HONOR South Africa, said that “At HONOR, we believe that technology is ultimately about people and about creating opportunities for people to build better futures. Our learnership programme is an investment in young South Africans and in the potential, they bring to the workplace. We are proud of what these learners have achieved, but we also see this graduation as the beginning of their journey rather than the end. We hope the skills, confidence and experience they have gained will open doors to meaningful careers and continued growth.”
The programme also reflected the importance of collaboration between government and the private sector in addressing youth unemployment and strengthening the pipeline of skilled young people entering the economy.
As reflected in an address to the media on the latest progress of the Presidential Youth Employment Intervention, our responsibility is not simply to create opportunities for young people, but to strengthen the pathways that enable them to move from learning to earning and, ultimately, towards sustainable livelihoods. The latest quarterly results demonstrate both the scale of the challenge and the importance of partnerships across government, business and civil society.
“Today, as we celebrate the graduation of HONOR’s learners, we see that principle being put into practice. These young people have not only gained knowledge but have had the opportunity to develop practical workplace experience and skills that can help position them for the next stage of their careers. This is precisely the kind of partnership we need to see more of.
“Government cannot address youth unemployment alone. The private sector has an important role to play in opening doors, providing workplace experience and investing in the capabilities of young South Africans. I commend HONOR for recognising that investing in young people is not only an investment in their individual futures, but also in the future of our economy.”
For HONOR, the learnership programme complements the company’s broader youth-focused initiatives in South Africa, including its digital skills and community development programmes. HONOR has previously partnered with organisations working to expand access to technology and digital skills for young people in underserved communities.
The graduation ceremony included reflections from the learners, the presentation of certificates and an opportunity for stakeholders to engage with the young people who have completed the programme.