ANCYL concerned about unemployment crisis, EFF also raises alarm
The ANCYL said its deeply concerned about the alarming spike in the unemployment rate.
Picture: Fati Moalusi/AFP
JOHANNESBURG - The ANC Youth League (ANCYL) said that the rise in unemployment figures was a stark reminder that urgent and innovative solutions were needed to address the crisis.
The ANCYL said it was deeply concerned about the alarming spike in the unemployment rate.
On Tuesday, Stats SA revealed that the country's official unemployment rate increased from 32.9% in the first quarter to 33.5% in the second quarter.
The ANCYL said this not only reflected the deepening crisis facing the country but particularly its young people who were disproportionately affected by joblessness and economic exclusion.
Meanwhile, the Economic Freedom Fighters (EFF) has also weighed in on the rise in unemployment figures, describing the second quarter as a revelation of the grim reality facing SA's working class.
Around 8.4 million people are without jobs.
READ: SA unemployment rate increases to 33.5% in Q2
The EFF said this had to be understood as an indictment of a system that continued to fail the most marginalised.
EFF member of Parliament, Mbali Dlamini, also expressed her shock at what she termed alarming youth unemployment figures.
"Out of around 10.3 million young people aged 15 to 24 in the second quarter of 2024, a shocking 35.2% are entirely cut off from employment, education, or training. this is a worsening of the situation from last year, with the NEET [Not in employment, education, or training) rate rising for both young men and women," said Dlamini.