The failure to integrate so many people into the labour market is a terrible waste of human potential, and cripples the economy. It threatens social cohesion and in the context of the postapartheid transition it represents a particular concern because of the substantial over-representation of black South Africans in the NEET population. The 3.4 million NEETs may be compared with the 950 000 students in universities (both public and private) and 400 000 students in colleges - a total of 1.35 million.