ANCYL wants youth unemployment declared national disaster

The ANC Youth League (ANCYL) is calling on President Cyril Ramaphosa to declare youth unemployment a national disaster.

The league says the millions of young people without jobs are experiencing a Black Christmas marked by hunger and deepening economic exclusion.

According to the latest statistics from StatsSA, South Africa's youth unemployment rate stands at 31.9%.

The national average youth unemployment rate dropped from 33.2% to 31.9%, but labour experts say it is still considerably high.

The ANCYL league says the president must not lose sight of people’s daily struggles during the festive season.

It says declaring unemployment a national disaster will allow the state to mobilise resources and fast-track interventions.