STELLALANDER-VRYBURG: The North West province continues to record the highest unemployment rate in South Africa, according to the 2nd Quarter Labour Force Survey released by Statistics South Africa on Wednesday, 13 August.
The official unemployment rate stands at 40.1%, reflecting a slight 0.3% drop from the previous quarter and a 1.2% decline compared with the same period last year. The expanded unemployment rate, which includes discouraged job seekers, remains alarmingly high at 54.7%, with over 1.5 million residents without work.
“Our absorption rate of 31.6% is the lowest in the country, and labour force participation is also among the lowest nationally at 52.7%,” said DA MPL Freddy Sonakile. “These figures highlight the province’s ongoing economic challenges, leaving many residents without viable employment opportunities.” Sonakile recalled the DA march to the Office of the Premier on 4 July, during which a memorandum was handed over demanding urgent action. The memorandum called for: Declaring unemployment a provincial crisis, establishing a Premier-led Youth Employment War Room, implementing a turnaround jobs plan with measurable targets, prioritising infrastructure projects to stimulate growth and publishing quarterly reports on investment and job creation. While acknowledging that job creation is largely driven by the private sector, Sonakile emphasized the role of government in creating an environment that supports and accelerates sustainable employment. Premier Lazarus Mokgosi, in his second State of the Province address, outlined initiatives aimed at job creation, including the expansion of the Expanded Public Works Programme, recruitment of community health workers, and other labour-focused programmes. Despite these efforts, opposition parties have raised concerns about the effectiveness and sustainability of such public employment initiatives. Sonakile expressed frustration at the lack of concrete action: “One month later, there has been no response from the Premier. There is currently no jobs crisis plan, and memorandums and proposals to address this challenge appear to have been ignored. Jobs are not created by cutting ribbons, hosting roadshows, or attending ceremonial openings. The statistics indicate a province on autopilot, with no real urgency for economic reform.” The DA has formally requested that the portfolio committee responsible for oversight of the Premier prioritizes the matter during engagements with Mokgosi. Sonakile warned that the Premier’s continued silence amounts to a betrayal of North West residents.
