Statistics South Africa has revealed that the number of unemployed people in South Africa increased from 4,9 million in 2012 to 7,7 million in 2022.
According to the Agency, the proportion of those in long-term unemployment increased from 67,3% to 77,0% during this period.
Recently, the KwaZulu-Natal Provincial government announced that it will be ploughing R70 million into the Youth Empowerment Fund to applicants who meet the requirements.
According to KZN Premier Nomusa Dube-Ncube, the province has repurposed the Fund and set aside R100 million for the 2023/24 financial year to benefit more young people in sectors that create jobs, as opposed to businesses that employ only a few people.
In a statement, Dube-Ncube has also announced:
The Executive Council resolved that each department, except for the frontline services departments, to reprioritise within their budgets an amount of R10 million to contribute towards job creation.
This is to be done through an intensified Expanded Public Works Programme to benefit youth, women and people with disabilities.
One of the government’s interventions includes a partnership with Sumitomo/Dunlop to roll out smart centres and cooperatives in townships and rural areas.
“These cooperatives will be fully owned by young people and will promote local economic growth in the tyre industry,” confirmed Dube-Ncube. The tyre industry is one of the key supporting industries for the domestic automotive industry.
The Ithala Development Finance Corporation has also distributed R146 million funding to 293 Small, Medium and Micro Enterprises and co-operatives.
Through this effort, the Corporation will be creating 1 297 employment opportunities for the period up to 31 December 2023.
Ithala is also supporting the launch of projects in townships and rural areas, including a R40 million plywood manufacturing plant close to KwaNongoma.
A total of R100 million has been invested in a logistics hub in Estcourt, a R25 million fuel depot in Mnambithi, and a R35 million roofing material manufacturing plant in eThekwini.
According to the provincial government, the number of jobs that will be created by these projects are estimated to be 1 350.
Further news on employment programmes to benefit young people and those over 35 years, and more economic models will be announced by departments during the upcoming Budget Votes.
