In the South African context, youth work is originally predominantly practised by FBOs and community-based organisations (CBOs). There is, however, currently an increasing demand and consequently for the practice of youth work in the public sector. There are currently institutions of higher learning, which offer education and training for youth workers. However, the qualification is just academic since this field is not yet recognised as a profession. Moreover, there is no uniformity in the curriculum due to a lack of uniform unit standards.

In practice, those practising youth work do not have similar qualifications and competencies. There is a shortage of skilled personnel, lack of financial resources and disparities in practice as well as education and training. The consequence is that the youth-serving organisations or agencies do not always have the resources to facilitate total development of young people as well as improving the skills and capabilities of youth workers. There is a need for research in the area of youth work.

SAYC existed in the Western Cape before but due to a myriad of reasons which include inter-alia but not limited, resources and capacity, due to mounting challenges in our province and a lack of co- ordination of civil society youth organizations the youth sector has been weakened as such many organizations operate in silos equally there’s no authentic youth voice in this province, as such there’s no proper lobbying and advocacy in making sure that issues affecting young people find expression in government programs and that youth development is mainstreamed within government departments.

The Youth civil society in the Western Cape has been relatively weak in the past few years; indeed there were structures at the provincial level assigned to take care of the interests of young people in the province, However these structures became ineffective because they were too political and not representative of all sectors organizing young people hence they became a battle field for those who had political differences in their political organizations. Equally some saw these structures as quick money making schemes to advance their self-centered interests at the expense of helpless young people who find themselves outside the mainstream of the economy.