The content on this page is not written by Polity.org.za, but is supplied by third parties. This content does not constitute news reporting by Polity.org.za.

South Africa’s unemployment crisis is spiralling out of control, and the so-called Government of National Unity (GNU) remains missing in action.

StatsSA’s latest Quarterly Labour Force Survey confirms what every South African can already feel: the economy is broken. The expanded unemployment rate has surged to 43.1%, the highest in almost three years, while 8.23 million South Africans are now jobless. These are not just statistics — they are stories of hardship, hunger, and hopelessness. Behind every number is a young graduate sending out CVs with no response, a breadwinner sitting at home with no income, and families forced to choose between electricity and food.

Just last week, Tourism Minister Patricia de Lille revealed that her department now receives up to 10,000 applications for job openings, forcing them to rely on artificial intelligence to shortlist candidates. This is a stark sign of the desperation gripping South African households and the overwhelming pressure on even the most basic job opportunities.

This worsening crisis is being fuelled by the GNU’s lack of urgency, policy indecision, and total absence of accountability. Despite bold promises to usher in a new era, almost one year later, nothing has changed. GDP growth remains stuck below 1%, interest payments now consume 22 cents of every Rand in tax revenue, and not a single GNU Minister has signed a performance agreement.

Just two weeks ago, South Africans marked Workers’ Day — a day meant to honour the dignity of work. But for millions, it has become a painful reminder of what they’ve lost: the opportunity to earn a living, provide for their families, and build a future. And for those without work, the longer they stay unemployed, the harder it becomes to re-enter the job market at all.

ActionSA calls on the coalition government to stop dithering and deliver real, practical reforms in Budget 3.0 to address South Africa’s deepening jobs crisis. It is time for leadership that prioritises the people — not political deals, not bureaucratic delays, not excuses. Without bold action, this government will be remembered not for national unity, but for a national unemployment crisis.

Issued by ActionSA Member of Parliament Alan Beesley