Youth Day 2025: Malema calls for action against youth unemployment
EFF leader Julius Malema lashed out at the government's failure to create jobs and other opportunities for young people.
Image: Timothy Bernard / Independent Newspapers
Speaking at the EFF Youth Day commemoration in KwaZulu-Natal, the party's leader Julius Malema lashed out at government, saying it had failed to create jobs and other opportunities for young people.
June 16, is a day on which South Africa celebrates the contribution of young people to the struggle against the apartheid government.
The date commemorates the students' protest march that took place on June 16, 1976, in Soweto, against the Afrikaans Medium Decree.
Addressing supporters at the King Zwelithini Stadium in Kwazulu-Natal, Malema said unemployment should not be allowed to keep increasing.
Youth unemployment in South Africa is a persistent challenge with the latest figures showing a rate of 46.1% for those aged 15-34 in the first quarter of 2025.
Malema said the young people should stand up and fight for jobs.
'You must be like the 1976 generation, and stand up and fight these people who are stealing our jobs, who are stealing our land - because without land we will not have our jobs,' he said.
Malema added that every household should have an employed person, adding that the youth should be given priority for jobs at the eThekwini Municipality.
He said the party was also fighting for the reduction of data prices.
'Comrades, we are fighting in Parliament, and we are fighting for you. They wanted to increase and we said it would never happen. We defeated Seta when they were appointing the children of Gwede Mantashe and we said it would never happen under our watch.
"Today, we are fighting for data, it must fall. Data is expensive in South Africa. Data must fall because it is information. We use data to access information to look for jobs and when it is expensive, it means we cannot have access to those opportunities,' said Malema, adding that data should not expire.
He said the party has already approached MTN, Vodacom, Cell C and Telkom.
'How can data be cheap in Malawi and Kenya, and be expensive in South Africa where Vodacom is based? It must be cheap here,' he said.
Addressing the launch of the MK Party Youth League in Clermont KwaZulu-Natal, former President Jacob Zuma pleaded with young people to be at the forefront to take South Africa forward.
"I can say without hesitation that the youth is going to liberate this country," Zuma said, adding that young people should raise their voices about the challenges facing the country.
DA leader John Steenhuisen said youth unemployment in South Africa is the highest in the world.
He said over 8.7 million young people are not in employment, education or training.
'That's not just a statistic — it's a national tragedy. It is a violation of dignity, a theft of potential, and a failure of justice,' he said.
"Sadly, in our country one doesn't have to go far to meet a young South African who has been affected by the lack of employment opportunities. These are skilled young people who have completed matric. In many instances, higher education is completed. Trained for the 4th Industrial Revolution. Unemployed.'
He added that these young people apply for dozens of jobs every month but hear nothing back.
'They don't have 'connections". They don't have experience, or a chance to gain it. And they are losing hope,' he said, adding that this is the story of millions of young people in the country
Delivering a keynote address at the National Youth Day commemoration in Potchefstroom in the North West province, Deputy President Paul Mashatile, admitted that youth unemployment is a crisis, saying this is more than just an economic issue, but a moral emergency.
Mashatile said this affects the whole society and demands urgent action from all sectors - government business and communities at large.
'We must fix the structural challenges in our economy to address inequality and skills mismatch between education and what the job market needs,' said Mashatile.
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