JOHANNESBURG - Young people in South Africa are calling on President Cyril Ramaphosa to restore their dignity and prioritise tackling unemployment.
In recent years, data has shown that graduate unemployment continues to rise, leaving many young people frustrated despite having formal qualifications.
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Among them is graduate Swelihle Mabaso, who has been unemployed since June last year.
“I was really hoping that by the time graduation comes, I would have been employed, that I would have fulfilled my dreams.
“It's been disheartening that my parents sent me to school to go achieve something that they couldn't, yet months later, I'm still here at home, back to the space I was trying to escape,” Mabaso said.
Mabaso pushed back against claims that young people are not trying hard enough to find work.
“Every day, you see young people waking up at 6am to send in their CVs. You go on your TikTok, and young people are applying to restaurants now. They're looking for jobs to feed their families.”
She said frustration grows when leaders make what young people perceive as empty promises.
“We are here. We're not lazy. We want to work. But there's no opportunities for us. The door has been closed.”
Former Public Protector Thuli Madonsela also highlighted the severity of unemployment in the country, particularly among the youth.
She said the crisis becomes even more stark when broken down by province and region.
Madonsela urged government to shift from promises to practical support, particularly by backing youth-owned businesses and creating sustainable opportunities.