The heavy burden of not being able to financially sustain one’s life had been lifted for some South Africans when the government introduced the R350 Social Relief Distress (SRD).
This was in response to the Covid-19 pandemic that had changed the financial circumstances of many families.
A recent study by the Youth Capital Project has revealed that South African youth spend an average of R938 a month, looking for a job. This is almost three times the SRD grant that millions of young people are dependent on to survive.
In the study conducted by the Youth Capital Project, individuals shared how their finances had been negatively impacted the Covid-19 pandemic.
In an interview, Project Lead, Kristal Duncan-Williams said:
These costs might seem insignificant but can be a huge barrier for young people who are having to choose between a meal that day or looking for work.
These costs lead to people having to borrow money from family, friends, or microlenders.
While there are zero-rated and low-data online platforms for the youth to use when applying for a job, some people aren’t aware that these are available.
Some employers have adopted using WhatsApp for recruitment purposes, but still have people knocking on their doors with printed CV’s in their hands.
Duncan-Williams added that understanding the cost of job seeking is one piece of the puzzle but it's a lot more complex than that for the young person.
