Note to Editors: Please note Hannah Lidgett, MPL sound bite in English
The DA notes the recent Quarterly Labour Force Survey, for the first quarter of 2025, which show an unemployment increase of 3.7% for KwaZulu-Natal (KZN) – the highest in the country.
We further note the 2.2% increase in KZN’s expanded unemployment rate compared to the fourth quarter of 2024.
Our province’s statistics also see employment within KZN’s agriculture sector declining by 7.8% and manufacturing by a whopping 12.5%.
It is clear that urgent steps need to be taken to address this alarming downward trend. As part of KZN’s Government of the Provincial Unity (GPU), the DA will push for;
• Boosting of KZN’s agriculture sector through agri-processing of products including hemp and cannabis, which have a potential value of R28billion, with the right regulatory environment and necessary support for farmers
• Major infrastructure investment, which is critical in attracting investment and ensuring that KZN remains competitive as a tourism destination. Our province has unique tourism offerings but if our infrastructure is not maintained, we will not attract visitors
• Ensuring Private Public partnerships (PPP) which will ultimately lead to infrastructure investment, particularly within the manufacturing industry and;
• The prioritisation of renewable energy which has massive potential, particularly in KZN’s rural areas.
As part of KZN’s GPU – and with a Finance MEC capable of stabilising our province’s finances and a Public Works and Infrastructure MEC committed to using public assets to create growth and employment – the DA is confident that KZN can start to arrest some of the recent declines.