The Military Skills Development System (MSDS) is the main SA National Defence Force (SANDF) contributor to government’s National Development Plan (NDP) with the rush to apply for the 2026 intake at the Pretoria military recruitment centre mirroring the high unemployment rate among young South Africans.
When application forms were made available in mid-February, the SANDF reports its main recruitment centre in Gauteng at the Bank of Lisbon Building on the southern side of the Pretoria central business district (CBD) witnessed long queues.
The closing date for applications is 28 March and, if previous years are any yardstick, SANDF recruitment officers face scrutiny of more than 180 000 applications for the two thousand plus who make it to actual recruitment.
Official figures have it the unemployment rate among young South Africans in the fourth quarter of last year was 44.6%. MSD recruitment is confined to the 18 to 22 age group with the exception of graduates up to 26 years of age who can also apply for the two-year stint in uniform. Another component of MSD recruitment last year saw military personnel visit high and secondary schools to provide guidance on the various career paths in the SANDF.
This was repeated in Botshabelo, Free State, on 28 February and 1 March when Brigadier General K Mokgothu led an MSD recruitment drive at the Itsoseng satellite community learning centre.
The one-star is Director Human Resources Acquisition in the Department of Defence (DoD) division responsible for the human component of the national defence force. She and her team gave young men and women from Botshabelo and surrounds an insight into MSD including its focus on career prospects and leadership skills development as well as military training across musterings in the four SANDF arms – the SA Army, SA Air Force (SAAF), SA Military Health Service (SAMHS) and SA Navy (SAN).
The Human Resource Division has it the SANDF recognises the importance of investing in young talent to build a strong, skilled and disciplined force. “Through programmes like MSDS, the organisation not only strengthens national security but also empowers individuals with life-changing opportunities.”
