Political parties call for action as South Africa's unemployment crisis escalates

South Africa's unemployment rate has reached a staggering 32.9%, with 8.2 million people officially unemployed and 3.5 million discouraged work-seekers. 

The latest Quarterly Labour Force Survey (QLFS) has sparked outrage among political parties, who are demanding action from the government to address the crisis.

According to the report, the total number of employed persons is 16.8 million. 

The three industries that employ the most people are trade, employing 3.2 million, community and social services with 3.9 million, and finance employs 3 million people.

However, this quarter has seen a net job loss of 291 000.

Major declines were recorded in trade, which went down by 194 000 while construction declined by 119 000 jobs.

The uMkhonto weSizwe Party (MKP) said it was not surprised by the rising unemployment rate.

“This is yet another indicator of the rapid economic and social collapse under the so-called Government of National Unity (GNU),” MKP spokesperson Nhlamulo Ndhlela said.

“This is a Frankenstein coalition stitched together to serve elite interests, not the people of South Africa…Once again, black youth, black women, and persons living with disabilities, the very backbone of our society bears the heaviest burden of this crisis. 

“These are the very groups who are deliberately sidelined from the mainstream economy, locked out by a racially-defined skills economy that still reflects the apartheid architecture of privilege,” Ndhlela said.

The EFF called for practical solutions to stimulate economic activity and ensure mass job creation. 

The party’s Sinawo Thambo also hit out at the GNU saying they have failed to put in place any practical and believable plan to create jobs and address the crisis of unemployment in South Africa.

The African Transformation Movement (ATM) has highlighted the racial disparities in unemployment, with black Africans bearing the heaviest burden.

“The catastrophic mismanagement of South Africa's economy, underscored by an alarming rise in unemployment that has reached an unprecedented 32.9%, reflects the utter failure of the ANC-DA coalition government to fulfil its obligations to the citizens of South Africa,” the party said.

The ATM has suggested empowering small and medium enterprises (SMEs) through accessible funding and resources, leveraging mineral resources to stimulate job creation, and implementing policies that prioritise employment for South Africans.

Even parties within the GNU weighed in on the matter.

The GOOD Party secretary general, Brett Herron, said South Africa was not just facing an unemployment crisis but a crisis of dignity.

“The latest QLFS confirms what South Africans already feel in their homes and communities - unemployment is getting worse, not better… Every lost job means another family pushed into poverty. Every discouraged worker is a symbol of a broken economic system,” Herron said.

The DA has also emphasised the need for economic growth and job creation. 

“Economic growth and job creation are the paramount priority of the government, and the DA's reform proposals and bold agenda should be front and centre to reverse this situation,” said Michael Bagraim, DA spokesperson on Employment and Labour.

Cape Argus