I don't know how it is in South Africa, but in the United States, experience trumps all.
If your son can develop a proven, verifiable track record of his IT skills and knowledge, he would be a lot more employable (at least in the United States).
I am currently going to school for IT in a two-year program. I will graduate with an Associate of Applied Science in Computer Support Specialist. The course work is mainly network and database administrative stuff in Microsoft Windows and Linux.
I could try just earning the degree and finding a job on that alone. But I plan to do more to improve my resume. (This will be done WHILE I am still in school.)
1) I plan to volunteer my time at charitable/non-profit organizations as an IT person. Basically, I'd be able to check in with them a few times a week to see if they have any computer problems for me to fix for free. Such as email, network problems, hardware upgrades, whatever the case may be. This allows me to actually do some IT work and put it on my resume. This also allows me to procure an IT reference from an employer (the non-profit organization). Remember that experience counts the most. Start the clock on years spent working in IT, even if it is without pay.
2) I plan on building a website where I show people how to do things on their computer or solve computer problems. I can show people anything from very basic computer stuff, to complex IT stuff, or database / network admin. Whatever it may be. This is my online resume and portfolio of what I know and what I can do. It is proof that I know it and can do it. The screen shots and instructions are right there, on my site, with my name on it. On the site, I will include a profile of who I am, the skill sets I have, and what kind of work I'm looking for. As well as a button on the main page that says, "Hire me". When applying for work, my email address and my website link will be on my resume. It will also be mentioned in my cover letter.
I suggest that your son do these things, at minimum.
He will stand out. Why? Because most people who read this will never do this.
He will be among the few that does... even among hearing people. Some IT people just post a resume online and link to that. Go a step or two further.