Numbers tell an angry tale
South Africa’s swelling youth unemployment numbers tell a story of people who are running out of time and patience.
Not so long ago I said youth unemployment is a national crisis. It has taken a turn for the worse. Last week’s quarterly labour force survey (QLFS) revealed a grim reality written in numbers. At 52%, youth unemployment far outstrips the national average of 27%; Unemployment last hit these levels in September 2003; 6.2 million people are unemployed; and 14.3 million people are economically inactive. But the numbers don’t show the full picture. The average worker’s salary supports an extended family, meaning that more people are directly affected.
Perhaps even more ominous is the waning patience of ordinary people waiting to taste the “better life for all” democratic government has promised over 23 years – that’s a lifetime for our youth.
The question now is whether the ruling party and the government can face up to these facts.
The ANC’s nonchalant disregard – for, among others, the visible face of poverty that’s often female and black, the despondent and jaded unemployed youth and the rampaging violence against women – speaks of a ruling party devoid of a sense of serving the people.
Perhaps more infuriating, is its inability to reassure the country that is has the problems under control.
Evidence of policy uncertainty can be seen in the unsuccessful efforts of the New Growth Path and the much lauded but never implemented National Development Plan. All this points to an administration that jumps from one policy tool to another with the hope of landing on the one that might work.
The indecision over the Minerals and Petroleum Resources Development Act and Mining Charter reinforces the view that pragmatism has given way to populism.
The severity of flagging growth is underlined by a profound lack of vision.
Current responses are inadequate, even counterproductive. The latest nine-point plan lacks a how-to approach. It talks of “Moderating work place conflict”, but in what way? We already have the Commission for Conciliation, Mediation and Arbitration and the Labour Court for any labour-related conflict.
We have leaders and politicians who have created an environment that has turned the economy into a cannibal that feeds on its people.
I suggest claiming back this government of the people from the political elites whose real motives are self-enrichment and selling favours. Unless we all come together to counter factors that are holding back growth in this country’s economy, until we implement targeted investments and put in place sound regulations to address rising tides of unemployment, rampant corruption, state looting, the lack of jobs and the poor education outcomes, we are not going to dramatically improve our medium-term growth outlook.
Our unemployment crisis alone is reason enough to reboot our economy and get rid of those bringing political risk by putting in place leaders with a vision beyond their bloated political stomach.