Road to 2024 Elections | The Critical Choice | 5 May 2024

JOHANNESBURG - South Africa is at a point in its 30-year democracy where the list of problems needing urgent attention keeps growing.

At the top of that list is the rate of unemployment, the highest in the world at 32%. The International Monetary Fund predicts that the worst is still to come as the South African economy fails to absorb job seekers.

Even if the country achieves the desired growth, is the labour market skilled enough to make a dent? Most of the major political parties recognise this worrying problem and have made promises in their manifestos to create jobs and get South Africa working.

But how realistic are these promises and what will it take to get there? 

Economist Dr Azar Jammine, SAFTU General Secretary Zwelinzima Vavi, political analyst Sanet Madonsela-Solomon, and from the South African Chamber of Commerce and Industry, Advocate Mtho Xulu, spoke to eNCA.