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IOL News
15-05-2025
- Business
- IOL News
Political parties call for action as South Africa's unemployment crisis escalates
With South Africa's unemployment rate soaring to 32.9%, political parties are calling for urgent government action. Image: Freepik South Africa's unemployment rate has reached a staggering 32.9%, with 8.2 million people officially unemployed and 3.5 million discouraged work-seekers. The latest Quarterly Labour Force Survey (QLFS) has sparked outrage among political parties, who are demanding action from the government to address the crisis. According to the report, the total number of employed persons is 16.8 million. The three industries that employ the most people are trade, employing 3.2 million, community and social services with 3.9 million, and finance employs 3 million people. Video Player is loading. Play Video Play Unmute Current Time 0:00 / Duration -:- Loaded : 0% Stream Type LIVE Seek to live, currently behind live LIVE Remaining Time - 0:00 This is a modal window. Beginning of dialog window. Escape will cancel and close the window. Text Color White Black Red Green Blue Yellow Magenta Cyan Transparency Opaque Semi-Transparent Background Color Black White Red Green Blue Yellow Magenta Cyan Transparency Opaque Semi-Transparent Transparent Window Color Black White Red Green Blue Yellow Magenta Cyan Transparency Transparent Semi-Transparent Opaque Font Size 50% 75% 100% 125% 150% 175% 200% 300% 400% Text Edge Style None Raised Depressed Uniform Dropshadow Font Family Proportional Sans-Serif Monospace Sans-Serif Proportional Serif Monospace Serif Casual Script Small Caps Reset restore all settings to the default values Done Close Modal Dialog End of dialog window. Advertisement Next Stay Close ✕ However, this quarter has seen a net job loss of 291 000. Major declines were recorded in trade, which went down by 194 000 while construction declined by 119 000 jobs. The uMkhonto weSizwe Party (MKP) said it was not surprised by the rising unemployment rate. 'This is yet another indicator of the rapid economic and social collapse under the so-called Government of National Unity (GNU),' MKP spokesperson Nhlamulo Ndhlela said. 'This is a Frankenstein coalition stitched together to serve elite interests, not the people of South Africa…Once again, black youth, black women, and persons living with disabilities, the very backbone of our society bears the heaviest burden of this crisis. 'These are the very groups who are deliberately sidelined from the mainstream economy, locked out by a racially-defined skills economy that still reflects the apartheid architecture of privilege,' Ndhlela said. The EFF called for practical solutions to stimulate economic activity and ensure mass job creation. The party's Sinawo Thambo also hit out at the GNU saying they have failed to put in place any practical and believable plan to create jobs and address the crisis of unemployment in South Africa. The African Transformation Movement (ATM) has highlighted the racial disparities in unemployment, with black Africans bearing the heaviest burden. 'The catastrophic mismanagement of South Africa's economy, underscored by an alarming rise in unemployment that has reached an unprecedented 32.9%, reflects the utter failure of the ANC-DA coalition government to fulfil its obligations to the citizens of South Africa,' the party said. The ATM has suggested empowering small and medium enterprises (SMEs) through accessible funding and resources, leveraging mineral resources to stimulate job creation, and implementing policies that prioritise employment for South Africans. Even parties within the GNU weighed in on the matter. The GOOD Party secretary general, Brett Herron, said South Africa was not just facing an unemployment crisis but a crisis of dignity. 'The latest QLFS confirms what South Africans already feel in their homes and communities - unemployment is getting worse, not better… Every lost job means another family pushed into poverty. Every discouraged worker is a symbol of a broken economic system,' Herron said. The DA has also emphasised the need for economic growth and job creation. 'Economic growth and job creation are the paramount priority of the government, and the DA's reform proposals and bold agenda should be front and centre to reverse this situation,' said Michael Bagraim, DA spokesperson on Employment and Labour. Cape Argus
IOL News
14-05-2025
- Business
- IOL News
Political parties demand action as South Africa's unemployment crisis escalates
South Africa's unemployment rate has surged in the 1st quarter. Image: File South Africa's unemployment rate has reached a staggering 32.9%, with 8.2 million people officially unemployed and 3.5 million discouraged work-seekers. The latest Quarterly Labour Force Survey (QLFS) has sparked outrage among political parties, who are demanding action from the government to address the crisis. According to the report, the total number of employed persons is 16.8 million. The three industries that employ the most people are trade, employing 3.2 million, community and social services with 3.9 million, and finance employs 3 million people. Video Player is loading. Play Video Play Unmute Current Time 0:00 / Duration -:- Loaded : 0% Stream Type LIVE Seek to live, currently behind live LIVE Remaining Time - 0:00 This is a modal window. Beginning of dialog window. Escape will cancel and close the window. Text Color White Black Red Green Blue Yellow Magenta Cyan Transparency Opaque Semi-Transparent Background Color Black White Red Green Blue Yellow Magenta Cyan Transparency Opaque Semi-Transparent Transparent Window Color Black White Red Green Blue Yellow Magenta Cyan Transparency Transparent Semi-Transparent Opaque Font Size 50% 75% 100% 125% 150% 175% 200% 300% 400% Text Edge Style None Raised Depressed Uniform Dropshadow Font Family Proportional Sans-Serif Monospace Sans-Serif Proportional Serif Monospace Serif Casual Script Small Caps Reset restore all settings to the default values Done Close Modal Dialog End of dialog window. Advertisement Video Player is loading. Play Video Play Unmute Current Time 0:00 / Duration -:- Loaded : 0% Stream Type LIVE Seek to live, currently behind live LIVE Remaining Time - 0:00 This is a modal window. Beginning of dialog window. Escape will cancel and close the window. Text Color White Black Red Green Blue Yellow Magenta Cyan Transparency Opaque Semi-Transparent Background Color Black White Red Green Blue Yellow Magenta Cyan Transparency Opaque Semi-Transparent Transparent Window Color Black White Red Green Blue Yellow Magenta Cyan Transparency Transparent Semi-Transparent Opaque Font Size 50% 75% 100% 125% 150% 175% 200% 300% 400% Text Edge Style None Raised Depressed Uniform Dropshadow Font Family Proportional Sans-Serif Monospace Sans-Serif Proportional Serif Monospace Serif Casual Script Small Caps Reset restore all settings to the default values Done Close Modal Dialog End of dialog window. Next Stay Close ✕ However, this quarter has seen a net job loss of 291,000. Major declines were recorded in trade, which went down by 194,000 while construction declined by 119,000 jobs. The uMkhonto weSizwe Party (MKP) said it was not surprised by the rising unemployment rate. 'This is yet another indicator of the rapid economic and social collapse under the so-called Government of National Unity (GNU),' MKP spokesperson Nhlamulo Ndhlela said. He added that the crisis was a direct indictment of a government that has forfeited its legitimacy. 'This is a Frankenstein coalition stitched together to serve elite interests, not the people of South Africa…Once again, black youth, black women, and persons living with disabilities, the very backbone of our society bears the heaviest burden of this crisis. 'These are the very groups who are deliberately sidelined from the mainstream economy, locked out by a racially-defined skills economy that still reflects the apartheid architecture of privilege,' Ndhlela said. The EFF called for practical solutions to stimulate economic activity and ensure mass job creation. 'The current governing class is failing to appreciate that South Africa is facing a crisis and will plunge the whole country into further crisis as unemployment continues to be the biggest threat to national economic security,' the party's Sinawo Thambo said. Thambo also hit out at the GNU saying that they have failed to put in place any practical and believable plan to create jobs and address the crisis of unemployment in South Africa. The African Transformation Movement (ATM) has highlighted the racial disparities in unemployment, with black Africans bearing the heaviest burden. 'The catastrophic mismanagement of South Africa's economy, underscored by an alarming rise in unemployment that has reached an unprecedented 32.9%, reflects the utter failure of the ANC-DA coalition government to fulfil its obligations to the citizens of South Africa,' the party said. The ATM has suggested empowering small and medium enterprises (SMEs) through accessible funding and resources, leveraging mineral resources to stimulate job creation, and implementing policies that prioritise employment for South Africans. Even parties within the GNU weighed in on the matter. The GOOD party secretary general, Brett Herron, said South Africa was not just facing an unemployment crisis but a crisis of dignity. 'The latest QLFS confirms what South Africans already feel in their homes and communities - unemployment is getting worse, not better… Every lost job means another family pushed into poverty. Every discouraged worker is a symbol of a broken economic system,' Herron said. The DA has also emphasised the need for economic growth and job creation. 'Economic growth and job creation are the paramount priority of the government, and the DA's reform proposals and bold agenda should be front and centre to reverse this situation,' said Michael Bagraim, DA spokesperson on Employment & Labour.
IOL News
09-05-2025
- Politics
- IOL News
Legal experts warn MK Party's call for lifestyle audits for judge could undermine judicial independence
The MKP not happy with the country's judges Image: Itumeleng English / Independent Newspapers Legal experts have warned that a call by the Umkhonto weSizwe Party (MKP) for the implementation of lifestyle audits for judges could insinuate illegal conduct by judicial officers and possibly undermine their rulings. Non-governmental organisations in the legal sphere, political parties, and legal experts have argued that there are already proper channels to raise concerns about judges without impugning their character, emphasising that any allegations must be substantiated. This reaction follows the MKP's statement this week, calling for a lifestyle audit for judges. The party is unhappy with several court judgments that it believes do not make sense and indicate that the judges may not be serving the South African public but rather other interests due to inducements. MKP spokesperson Nhlamulo Ndhlela said they have been concerned for some time about the conduct of judges, which they believe no longer serves the public interest. He cited recent rulings, such as the dual citizenship verdict delivered by the Constitutional Court and the case involving MKP leader John Hlophe's suitability to sit in the Judicial Service Commission (JSC), as triggers for this call. 'Members of Parliament are required to declare their assets; therefore, the same standards should apply to judges, who wield immense constitutional power and influence. Judges must be held to an even higher standard of scrutiny and accountability in society. South Africa cannot afford to have a judiciary that is shielded from the same transparency expected of other arms of state. 'Judges are not infallible but human and prone, like all of us, to error and influence, including even bias, whether conscious or otherwise,' it MKP in their statement called for the immediate implementation of lifestyle audits and the declaration of assets for all members of the judiciary, from the highest echelons of the Constitutional Court to the lower benches. These audits must be conducted swiftly, independently, thoroughly, and regularly, it said. 'Transparency is not a threat; it is a necessity. The integrity of our courts depends not only on the law but on public trust, and that trust must be earned through openness, not opacity. The MKP will not rest until the judiciary is held to the same, if not higher, ethical standards expected of any public servant. The days of sacred cows are over. South Africans are watching, and they demand answers,' said the party. Mbekezeli Benjamin of Judges Matter said the requirements in the judges' code of conduct are much stricter than even those of MPs. 'We are not aware of any legal requirement for any holders of constitutional office – including judges – to be subject to lifestyle audits. Judges are already subject to the most stringent asset and income declarations of all public office bearers.' He noted that only judges are required to declare their income and assets of their immediate family members, including their spouses and children. 'Unlike Members of Parliament or Cabinet ministers, judges are also required to declare the income, assets, and interests of their immediate family. 'Unless a compelling argument is made as to why any particular judge would need to be subjected to a lifestyle audit over and above the declaration requirements, it's not clear why judges would be subject to a rule that no other constitutional office-bearer is subject to. To maintain their independence and ethics, there is also a strict and well-known system to control conflicts of interest and recusal in specific cases. There is therefore no reason to doubt that judges are only influenced by the law and the Constitution,' he said. He noted that according to the JSC Annual Report 2023/24, all 252 judges in South Africa are in full compliance and have declared all their assets. Glynnis Breytenbach, DA Shadow Minister of Justice and Constitutional Development, said 'I do not necessarily agree with the views of the MKP, but have no further comment. It is mischievous to malign the integrity of the judiciary without concrete evidence.' Constitutional expert and lawyer Mpumelelo Zikalala cautioned that great care needs to be taken in handling such matters. He noted that calling for a lifestyle audit on an individual could imply suspicion of corruption. Zikalala emphasised that judges have a code of conduct that they must comply pointed out that every judgment made in the country has its roots in the Constitution. Those who feel there is something wrong can call for a constitutional amendment when those are open. 'There are processes that are followed. If there is a feeling that there is something wrong with the judgment and the process, you can complain to the Judicial Service Commission and present facts. What you cannot do is make allegations that are not substantiated.' THE MERCURY
IOL News
30-04-2025
- Politics
- IOL News
MK Party rejects Julius Malema's claims of white funding and oppressors' money
Umkhonto WeSizwe Party (MK Party) spokesperson Nhlamulo Ndhlela denies that his party was funded by whites as EFF Leader Julius Malema has alleged. Image: Itumeleng English/Independent Newspapers The uMkhonto weSizwe Party (MK Party) on Wednesday denied claims by EFF leader Julius Malema that it is funded and controlled by whites, saying they will 'never' accept money from the oppressors, 'unlike them who are contemplating to join the white-funded government.' Speaking to IOL, MKP's National Spokesperson, Nhlamulo Ndhlela called on Malema to provide proof that supported his claims. Ndhlela said they do not want money from white monopoly capital, which it said funded the Government of National Unity (GNU). 'The GNU is a project of the Oppenheimers, and we won't be part of that. If we were funded by whites, we wouldn't have had fund issues during the [2024] elections,' Nhlamulo said. Malema earlier alleged that all political parties in South Africa, except for the Economic Freedom Fighters (EFF), were controlled by white people. He added that parties, including the Build One South Africa (BOSA), Patriotic Alliance (PA), United Democratic Movement (UDM), and the Democratic Alliance (DA), were all white-controlled. But Ndhlela disputed this and claimed that MKP rejected R1.6 billion last year because they did not want to join the unity government, which is a white project. 'We were given this money to be silent on the nationalisation of mines and banks. We couldn't take it because we don't want money from whites,' he said.
IOL News
29-04-2025
- Business
- IOL News
MK Party calls for Finance Minister Godongwana's resignation amid economic turmoil
MK Party spokesperson Nhlamulo Ndhlela. Image: Itumeleng English / Independent Newspapers The uMkhonto weSizwe Party (MK Party) has joined the growing list of organisations calling for Finance Minister Enoch Godongwana's resignation. The party has also formally tabled a motion of no confidence against Godongwana in Parliament, citing his tenure marked by fiscal mismanagement, contempt for the poor, and loyalty to discredited neoliberal dogma. "South Africans deserve leadership that rejects austerity and market fundamentalism. They deserve a bold, caring, and people-driven economic future, one led by the MK Party," it stated. The party's call comes after the Western Cape High Court's decision to suspend the 'unlawful' VAT increase announced by the ANC and DA-led Government of National Unity (GNU). The MK Party is the latest party to call for his resignation after the EFF and the DA. It described the GNU's economic policies as an "austerity dictatorship" that has brutally imposed suffering on South Africans. In a statement, the party's spokesperson Nhlamulo Ndhlela highlighted the failures of the GNU's Economic Reconstruction and Recovery Plan (ERRP), which it claims is a blueprint for mass impoverishment. The MK Party criticised the ERRP, saying it is built on savage austerity, anti-worker reforms, and stifling monetary policy that has destroyed any prospect of meaningful recovery. "The so-called 'differences' between the ANC and DA are pure theatre, a choreographed spectacle between ideological twins committed to deepening inequality and looting the country," Ndhlela said. Video Player is loading. Play Video Play Unmute Current Time 0:00 / Duration -:- Loaded : 0% Stream Type LIVE Seek to live, currently behind live LIVE Remaining Time - 0:00 This is a modal window. Beginning of dialog window. Escape will cancel and close the window. Text Color White Black Red Green Blue Yellow Magenta Cyan Transparency Opaque Semi-Transparent Background Color Black White Red Green Blue Yellow Magenta Cyan Transparency Opaque Semi-Transparent Transparent Window Color Black White Red Green Blue Yellow Magenta Cyan Transparency Transparent Semi-Transparent Opaque Font Size 50% 75% 100% 125% 150% 175% 200% 300% 400% Text Edge Style None Raised Depressed Uniform Dropshadow Font Family Proportional Sans-Serif Monospace Sans-Serif Proportional Serif Monospace Serif Casual Script Small Caps Reset restore all settings to the default values Done Close Modal Dialog End of dialog window. Advertisement Next Stay Close ✕ Ad Loading "The SARB has fuelled this assault through aggressive interest rate hikes, refusing to cut rates amid worsening economic hardship." According to the party, Godongwana's call for resignation comes amid a deepening economic crisis in South Africa. The country is facing high levels of unemployment, poverty, and inequality, with many citizens struggling to access basic services like electricity, water, and transport. The MK Party's call for Godongwana's resignation adds to the growing pressure on the Finance Minister to step down. EFF's president Julius Malema, on Monday called for Godongwana's resignation after the court's full bench set aside the adopted 2025 Fiscal Framework and Revenue Proposals and suspended the implementation of the 0.5 percentage point VAT increase which was set to come into effect on May 1. The EFF and the DA had approached the court to have the VAT increase announcement by Godongwana as well the adoption of the finance committees' report by both Houses set aside. After the matter was argued, the Finance Minister announced that the VAT increase would not be implemented, saying his legal team had settled the matter outside of court with the DA.
