Call for dismissal of minister of employment

ACTIONSA has written to President Ramaphosa, requesting that he dismiss the Minister of Employment and Labour, Nomakhosazana Meth, for her clear failure to arrest the deepening unemployment crisis that continues to erode hope, dignity and opportunity for millions of South Africans.

- ALAN BEESLEY

The latest Quarterly Labour Force Survey (QLFS), Q1:2025, paints a dire picture:

◆ The official unemployment rate rose to 32.9%, up from 31.9% the previous quarter.

◆A staggering 8.2 million South Africans are now unemployed, with an additional 3.5 million discouraged work-seekers.

◆291 000 jobs were lost in the first quarter alone the first such Q1 contraction since 2021. This equates to more than 24 000 jobs lost each week, and almost 5 000 each workday.

◆ The proportion of young South Africans aged 15-34 who are not in employment, education, or training (NEET) rose to 45.1% in Q1:2025 - a devastating indicator that nearly half of our youth have been left without opportunity, support or a path to a better future.