• 51 000 more KZN residents unemployed
• 50.5% of province’s young people neither employed or in education, training
• Premier must launch urgent programme to address crisis
(Please note Hannah Lidgett, MPL sound bite in English)
The Democratic Alliance (DA) remains deeply concerned by KwaZulu-Natal’s worsening unemployment crisis, as revealed in Statistics South Africa’s latest Quarterly Labour Force Survey (QLFS).
Despite a modest increase of 6 000 employed people, the province recorded an additional 51 000 unemployed residents, demonstrating that job creation is failing to keep pace with the growing demand for employment.
The stats also reveal that KZN’s official unemployment rate increased to 33.3%, while employment remains 26 000 below the same period last year. By comparison, the DA-governed Western Cape recorded an unemployment rate of 19.4%, demonstrating the significant employment disparities between provinces.
Of particular concern is the growing divide between KZN’s urban and rural communities. Unemployment in non-metropolitan areas has reached a staggering 40.6%, compared to 22.2% in eThekwini.
The province’s youth face an equally concerning reality, with approximately 2.13 million young people – or 50.5% – neither employed nor in education or training. This represents an increase of 170 000 young people in just one year.
The loss of 22 000 construction jobs and 14 000 agricultural jobs further highlights the urgent need to stimulate labour-intensive industries.
As a partner within KZN’s Government of Provincial Unity (GPU), the DA remains committed to driving economic reform. DA MECs Francois Rodgers in Finance and Martin Meyer in Public Works and Infrastructure are strengthening financial accountability, improving infrastructure delivery and creating conditions for investment and employment.
KZN’s tourism potential presents significant opportunities for job creation, but these depend on reliable infrastructure, functioning wastewater treatment systems, safe beaches and well-maintained attractions. The DA has taken eThekwini Municipality to court to demand accountability for the sewage crisis, which has decimated tourism in the city.
The DA calls for;
• Accelerated infrastructure projects
• Reduced red tape
• Greater support for agriculture and small businesses, and;
• Measurable youth employment programmes.
We reiterate our call for 10 000 meaningful youth employment and skills opportunities through a coordinated provincial programme to be led by Premier Thami Ntuli.
KZN cannot afford continued economic stagnation. The GPU must translate improved governance and investment commitments into sustainable jobs.