Youth unemployment used as tool of oppression

IN THE lead-up to the Budget speech, Minister of Finance Enoch Godongwana used unemployment as the basis for increasing VAT, despite SARS Commissioner Mr Edward Kieswetter warning that this approach has never been viable or fair.

- AWAM MAVIMBELA

He further threatened that if VAT were not raised, 19 000 teaching jobs would be lost. This psychological manipulation is to first exploitating fear while knowing full well that these job losses would only add to the existing 33.9 million unemployed and depressed South African youth.

In fact, the Gauteng government has leveraged youth unemployment in exchange for political support and votes. After the elections, 66 000 people — mostly youth and black — lost their jobs and Gauteng premier admitted that these were for elections.

Oppression is scholarly defined as mental pressure or distress. Youth unemployment creates immense psychological strain, leading to depression and desperation.

This vulnerability and desperation is then exploited by both the government and the private sector, which impose high workloads, low wages, and increased profits at the expense of young workers.

Therefore, youth unemployment also affects those employed in case of high workload, etc.