The IFP Youth Brigade says the African National Congress (ANC) led government has failed in creating jobs after the reports that many young people have turned to the streets to beg in country’s street corners with degrees due to lack of job opportunities.
In 2009 unemployment stood at 31,7 %, and has worsened to 34,9% in 2015.
“The government of the day has failed to respond to the crisis of youth unemployment in both word and deed. To lead, a leader must be able to feel people’s pain so that they can invest their own pain, courage and love. Mr Zuma seems unable, or too preoccupied, to do either. Mr Zuma, like his government, seems tired and weary after many years in executive office and are more content with the trappings of power and prestige of office in the face of escalating poverty and inequality.” said IFP Youth Brigade National Chairperson, Mkhuleko Hlengwa MP.
“We are most certainly at crisis point when graduates must turn to the street corners to source employment. With each passing day the youth of South Africa are receiving a raw deal from the government, and we cannot afford to carry on like this.” Said Hlengwa
“The ANC’s promise of creating millions of jobs was clearly just a vote-catching slogan without substance. The ruling party’s policies for job creation have gone from failure to failure. It has failed to meet the needs of the job market. Government must own up to its inability to create jobs, or foster an environment that is conducive to reducing unemployment. As things stand we desperately need much faster economic growth and development” continued Hlengwa.
“It is imperative that the government acknowledges that its policies are just not working. It must focus instead on securing much higher levels of private and effective public investment and encourage job creation wherever possible. We owe this to millions of South Africans who have no hope of ever finding a job. There is much needed relaxation of labour laws for job seekers to enter the market. Our labour laws needs reform,” added Hlengwa.
“The only way we can create jobs is to create an environment for businesses to thrive, we must reduce the red-tape and the over regulation. It should matter that young people set up their own business. We must create and inclusive economy, look at restraints for the economy. Very few enterprise projects last a long time. The real nut to crack is how to create an inclusive economy” concluded Hlengwa.
Issued by:
Mr Mkhuleko Hlengwa MP
IFP Youth Brigade National Chairperson
076 521 3221
