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South Africa’s unemployment rate climbed in the first quarter of 2024, according to official data released on Tuesday, presenting a concerning challenge for the government just weeks before the closest election in decades.
The unemployment rate reached 32.9 percent between January and March, marking a 0.8 percentage point increase from the previous quarter, as reported by the national statistics agency StatsSA.
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StatsSA noted, “The number of unemployed persons increased by 330,000 to 8.2 million.”
This issue stands as a significant political issue leading up to the national and provincial elections scheduled for May 29.
Particularly, young people express frustration over the lack of opportunities in what is typically seen as Africa’s most industrialized economy.
unemployed Youths rose to 45.5 percent in the first quarter, up by 1.3 percentage points compared to the previous three months.
The ruling African National Congress (ANC), in power since the dawn of democracy in 1994, has faced a notable decline in support.
Amid accusations of corruption and mismanagement, coupled with a sluggish economy, the ANC is anticipated to receive less than 50 percent of the vote in the upcoming general election on May 29.
Should the party fall short of a parliamentary majority, it would need to form coalitions to retain power.
The persistently high unemployment rate has sparked protests and fueled anti-foreigner sentiment as well.
