Dr Nthabiseng Moleko is an Economist at Stellenbosch Business School The 2023 quarter 3 Labour Force Survey paints a grim reality. The unemployment crisis is not a recent development. It has been persisting for at least the past decade. Unemployment according to Stats SA a decade ago (quarter 3 of 2013) was at 4.9 million people with the majority (3.2 million) of the unemployed experiencing long-term unemployment. Today unemployment is at 7.8 million, meaning 31.9% of South Africans are unemployed. This figure is still giving us an optimistic view of unemployment as it excludes those who have sadly given up looking for work. The number of discouraged workers adds an astounding 3.2 million people to the unemployed, putting the true rate of unemployment at an astonishing 41%. It’s disheartening for me to note that nothing is being done about it. Despite the size, scale and prolonged length of the unemployment crisis, woefully our economic and labour market policies remain unchanged. Perhaps, it is more apt to say we have surpassed the crisis levels. Yet, the trade, monetary, industrial and agricultural policies remain invariably the same. And we as South Africans wonder in dismay at the worsening unemployment trends. A re-evaluation of policies to enhance labour absorptive capacity is urgently needed. Policies that are not working cannot remain untouchable. The size of discouraged work seekers, which is but a proportion of the total unemployed is generally not included in the narrow definition that is cited largely by media and government. Discouraged work seekers alone are currently equal to the number of the long-term unemployed in 2013 at 3.2 million. Youth in rural areas, and townships who were unemployed a decade ago, have remained unemployed. In addition, new entrants in the labour market annually add an average contribution of 290 000 to the unemployed, totalling to an increased 2.9 million unemployed in the past decade. That by any labour market …
Zero2Five Trust bridges the holiday gap by feeding 4 000+ KwaZulu-Natal families
While South African schoolchildren eagerly anticipate the end-of-year holiday, for many this is a six-week break without regular daily meals. To bridge this nutritional gap, KwaZulu-Natal (KZN)-based NPO, Zero2Five Trust has partnered with Durban’s Victor Daitz Foundation to implement a holiday nutrition and fun programme for more than 4 000 families in rural areas of uThukela, iLembe, and King Cetshwayo Districts. An estimated 68% of KZN families with schoolchildren currently depend on regular meals provided by the National School Nutrition Programme or other feeding schemes. This makes the holiday period an increasingly difficult time, which is why this forward-thinking nutritional partnership is now running for a 5th consecutive year from mid-December. Says Julika Falconer, CEO of Zero2Five: “Our December and January holiday clubs have become the highlight for the various outreach areas we service throughout the year, and the fortified porridge distribution to over 4 000 households is a much-welcomed contribution for struggling families. Three of our caring, long-standing KZN funders also help each year to ensure 450 children have fun-filled days at our holiday clubs at three rural venues.” The three funders include the Victor Daitz Foundation, Marriott Investment Managers, and The Willowton Group, all of whom have provided much-needed support. Started by Victor Daitz in 1984, the Foundation is one of Durban’s oldest and most engaged family trusts, supporting a wide spectrum of causes across the province. In 2014, Marriott Investment Managers came on board as one of the first annual grantmakers for Zero2Five, supporting many Early Childhood Development (ECD) programmes and providing vital assistance to Zero2Five with financial management. The Willowton Group from Pietermaritzburg funds Zero2Five’s ECD centre-based nutrition programme throughout the year, adding much-needed food items for the holiday club meals in December. This year, holiday club …
A Mixed Bag Of Productivity Levels In South Africa
MEDIA INVITE 27 NOVEMBER 2023 TO ALL JOURNALISTS AND NEWS EDITORS RE: A MIXED BAG OF PRODUCTIVITY LEVELS IN SOUTH AFRICA The Acting Chief Economist at Productivity SA, Ms Juliet Mashabela says the South African economy is experiencing a mixed bag of productivity indicators. For 2023 Ms Mashabela says South African Multifactor Productivity has had a positive increase whilst Labour Productivity experienced a slight drop and Capital Productivity decelerated significantly. Mashabela was speaking ahead of the official launch of the 2023 Productivity Statistics. Members of the media are invited to the launch as follows: Date: 29 November 2023 Time: 09h00 -11h00 Platform: Join Webinar Link: https://us02web.zoom.us/webinar/register/WN_yLrmoGvUTImDT9uh2tHGTA The Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of Productivity SA, Mr Mothunye Mothiba says the release of the statistics is key in creating a platform for understanding how an improvement in productivity in the private and public sectors can help spur economic growth in South Africa. Productivity SA is an entity of the Department of Employment and Labour, established in terms of section 31 of the Employment Services Act, No. 4 of 2014, with the mandate to promote employment growth and productivity, thereby contributing to South Africa’s socio-economic development and competitiveness. For more information, please contact the Productivity SA media liaison office, Maupi Monyemangene, on 0824473232 or send an e mail: maupim@productivitysa.co.za. CLICK HERE to submit your press release to MyPR.co.za for free. …
No Boy Is Born An Abuser: GBV Can Be Eradicated Before It Starts
The solution to toxic masculinity is healthy masculinity - over 300 000 men have learnt how to be good men, fathers, mentors, and role models through Father A Nation's programmes. 20 NOVEMBER 2023, JOHANNESBURG: A father who was planning his family's murder and his suicide; husbands who beat their partners; and men who abandon and abuse, Craig Wilkinson has seen it all. However, he still believes that true masculinity is a force for good, and that if we can heal and restore men, South Africa (SA) can stop destructive masculine behaviour in its tracks. Wilkinson is the founder and CEO of Father A Nation, a non-profit company (NPC) that works to encourage positive masculinity in SA. The NPC has been teaching and inspiring boys and men for over 10 years to live with positive, healthy masculinity and stand against any form of abuse. "Many men and women in SA grow up without the presence of a father or positive male figure. This often results in paternal wounds and destructive beliefs about masculinity, with young men looking to figures such as gangsters, abusers, or absent fathers as role models. This highlights the critical role of a positive male figure in shaping the minds of boys and men in the country,” Wilkinson says. During 16 Days of Activism from 25 November to 10 December, Wilkinson, who is also a bestselling author and motivational speaker, and his team at Father A Nation will host hundreds of men at dynamic Gender Based Violence (GBV) workshops in hotspots around Gauteng and the Western Cape. The sessions will engage between 30 and 100 men at a time in open and honest conversation and provide training in positive, healthy masculinity. "Our philosophy at Father A Nation is that if we can heal men, we can heal the world. We focus on working with men to become excellent fathers, mentors, role models and just good men. The solution to GBV is to stop it in its tracks, men are the primary perpetrators of physical and sexual GBV. While it’s critical …
The fast lane to progress: public-private partnerships drive service delivery and social development goals in townships
November, Johannesburg: A community development organisation is calling for more public-private initiatives to improve basic service delivery that can lift communities out of poverty and restore dignity to the lives of the disenfranchised masses in South Africa (SA). The obligation to restore dignity and ensure equal access to basic services has been one of the country’s greatest challenges since 1994. Rhiza Holdings, an organisation developing township economies and communities, hails that partnerships with community organisations and public entities are critical to address immediate threats to the stability and security of marginalised people. “Without public-private partnerships it is impossible to achieve our social development goals for 2030,” says Godfrey Katsande, CFO at Rhiza Holdings. “The role of collaborative and people-focused initiatives are critical to ensuring that people aren’t fighting hunger, thirst, illness and unemployment alone,” he adds. Improving service delivery is key to solving the challenges that hinder social development in SA. Resources are depleted, jobs and job opportunities are lost, and overall living circumstances deteriorate in communities that lack access to adequate service delivery. Increased demand for service delivery puts local government under pressure "We echo the words of Finance minister Enoch Godongwana during the delivery of the Mid-term Budget Speech in acknowledging the immense pressure municipalities are under to meet increasing infrastructure service demands," says Katsande. The government has approved 28 of the 67 applications it has received totalling R56.8 billion in debt relief for money they owe to power utility Eskom. "We welcome Treasury's stated plan to work with municipalities towards creating more revenue through the transition to more self-generation of electricity by firms and households." Should these interventions be successfully carried out, municipalities should be well …
Youth development group sparks debate: Is South Africa fighting a skills shortage or a jobs shortage?
Afrika Tikkun and Microsoft Unite South African Businesses to Revolutionise Youth Employability and Close the Skills Gap Some of the country’s largest corporations at a recent roundtable discussion co-hosted by youth development group, Afrika Tikkun (AT) and Microsoft have questioned whether SA’s unemployment challenges are truly about job availability rather than a mismatch in skills demand and supply. During the dialogue held under the theme "Skills Gap, Youth Employability and Employment," industry leaders have uncovered a critical issue hindering progress in SA's workforce development landscape: a lack of coordination and collaboration among employers and those who provide young people with skills. This lack of collaboration, they warn, is allowing the gap between skills demanded by industry and those provided to young people to widen. While much of government policy and efforts by the skills and education sector focus on providing as many young people as possible with a wide range of skills and qualifications, employers are still struggling to fill vacancies in tech, finance and other growing sectors without hiring from outside SA or struggling to retain the small pool of skilled individuals in these crucial industries. The dialogue revealed that a significant obstacle impeding the country's workforce development environment was the conspicuous lack of cooperation and coordination among the various stakeholders who are accountable for providing the youth with necessary skills and employment. Distinguished delegates from leading companies, along with various SMMEs and recruitment firms shed light on the urgent imperative for a radical shift in perspective toward collaboration and skills-focused approaches. The consensus among industry players is that harnessing the power of supply chain interactions and industry-wide collaboration is paramount in addressing the pressing skills gap challenges faced by the nation. They also committed to tackling …
Enjoy a safe day outdoors by keeping personal safety top of mind
Summer is a beautiful time to relish the numerous outdoor activities Gauteng has to offer with family and friends. If you’re planning a trip to somewhere like the picturesque Hartbeespoort Dam for a braai or picnic, with the warm sun overhead and the gentle summer breeze rustling through the trees, Fidelity ADT encourages you to prioritise safety. This is especially important if you are venturing out alone or are a visitor to South Africa. Charnel Hattingh, Group Head of Marketing and Communications at Fidelity ADT, reminds us that personal safety is a shared responsibility between the police, private security and other stakeholders, and each individual member of the public. “It’s wonderful to explore new places and see things through different eyes, but be aware that venturing into the unfamiliar does make you vulnerable to getting lost or perhaps making a bad judgement call,” she says. “Unfamiliar areas and routes may also be prone to rapidly changing weather or terrain, and many nature spots also do not have good cellphone reception. “To ensure any outing you undertake is memorable for the right reasons and that you are able to get help in an emergency, it is advisable to explore trails in groups. Steer away from isolated areas unless you are accompanied by a guide.” She further offers these 10 tips for a safe outing: 1. Never hike alone; four or more in a group is safer. 2. Always tell someone where you are going and what time you expect to be back. Send a pin location if you can. 3. Have at least one fully charge cellphone with you and enquire beforehand about reception in the area. Save emergency numbers. 4. Carry a well-stocked first-aid kit and be aware of anyone in the group with a medical condition or allergy, etc. 5. Plan your route and stick to designated paths to avoid getting lost. Allow for ample time to finish the hike before it gets dark. If you are battling in daylight, things are bound to become much worse if you lose the …
The South African Hunger Crisis- How We Can All Make A Change
Join SALT Projects in Tackling Hunger: Empower Children and Families through a Holistic Feeding Program According to Statistics South Africa, over half a million (683,221) households with children aged 5 years or younger experienced hunger in 2021. Urban areas like Johannesburg and Cape Town have higher proportions of households facing inadequate and severely limited access to food. SALT Projects is committed to the goal of providing 86,000 meals and distributing 49,170 food parcels in 2023 to address the pressing issue of hunger in South Africa. Recently, SALT Projects achieved a significant milestone by acquiring a premises to expand its operations, but with growth and ambitious goals ahead, the organization is in dire need of volunteers. Vinolia, the Project Manager of SALT Projects, describes the rewarding experience of being part of the SALT Projects team, saying, "I love making a difference in people's lives, and every day I am filled with a sense of purpose because of what I get to do. The volunteers at SALT Projects have a genuine love for people, as it takes a compassionate heart to accomplish what they do." SALT Projects is tackling the hunger problem in South Africa, one meal at a time, and each volunteer contributes significantly. There are three impactful ways to help alleviate the hunger crisis affecting the country's youth: Volunteer: SALT Projects provides nutritious meals to children and vulnerable families at multiple primary schools in Cape Town. These meals may be the only food a child receives in a day. Volunteer duties include preparing hot meals, making sandwiches, and serving the children. Donate: You can sponsor a school feeding learner for one month with a donation of R150. Additionally, contributions of peanut butter, jam, macaroni, spaghetti, rice, Simons, and canned goods are highly valued in supporting vulnerable children. Support us: Spreading the word about SALT Projects can make a world of difference. Follow …
Amazon and SA Harvest serve a plateful of kindness to combat hunger in Cape Town
Following the global celebration of World Kindness Day, Amazon Web Services staff embraced the ethos of kindness in a vibrant culinary collaboration alongside the V&A Waterfront, Makers Landing and SA Harvest, the food rescue and hunger relief organisation that has delivered almost 50 million meals in the four years since its launch. This heartwarming partnership extended its reach to 14 beneficiary organisations, creating a collective force against hunger and giving the remarkable women from these organisations a morning filled with cooking activities and the opportunity to learn about reducing food waste alongside the compassionate Amazon team. This impactful initiative brought together 25 Amazon team members and the 14 women from SA Harvest and V&A Waterfront’s beneficiary organisations. These dedicated individuals worked hand in hand, using rescued food and following recipes provided by Shannon Smuts from Pure Foods. The event offered a unique opportunity to witness firsthand the collective commitment to rescuing and redistributing food to those in need. Alan Browde, CEO and founder of SA Harvest, expressed his excitement about this unique collaboration, "In the spirit of World Kindness Day, we were thrilled to partner with the V&A Waterfront and Amazon. This event is an example, on a very small scale, of the impact that can be made on alleviating hunger and food insecurity in Cape Town through collaboration." The morning unfolded at Makers Landing at the V&A Waterfront, where a tapestry of kindness was woven through the hands of those eager to make a difference. Amazon team members, embodying the spirit of kindness, cooked side by side with the unsung heroines from the beneficiary organisations, guided by the belief that kindness has the power to transform. Akim Riemer of Green Guerrillas shared fascinating insights on urban agriculture, soil farming and waste stabilisation, the magical healing power of soil-blind tasting micro-greens, …
SASOP Speaks Out Against Mental Health Trauma Experienced In The Middle East
The South African Society of Psychiatrists (SASOP) appeals to global leaders to put an end to the violence and facilitate humanitarian aid for the people of the Middle East. The situation in the Middle East has evolved into a severe humanitarian crisis. The ceaseless cycle of violence, destruction, and loss of life is taking a significant and continuous toll on the mental and emotional well-being of both Israeli and Palestinian populations, with a particularly devastating impact on the most vulnerable groups, including women, and children. Healthcare workers who are, in essence, frontline witnesses to this trauma and suffering, are vulnerable to experience burnout and trauma with long-lasting consequences. We are deeply disturbed by the immense trauma inflicted by the profound human suffering, loss of life, and deprivation of essential necessities such as water, electricity, sanitation, food and medicine. We find no justification for exposing civilians, especially children, to daily violence, displacement, fear and horror, while simultaneously denying them access to care and basic needs. Starvation and denial of access to medical care amount to gross human rights violations. As numbers of the injured rise, hospitals are battling the overwhelming inability to treat patients due to a shortage of fuel, food, water, medicines, and essential facilities. Doctors are forced to operate without painkillers, anesthetics or the resources to save premature infants. Our concerns extend not only to the physical well-being but also the mental health safety of those affected by the violence in Palestine and Israel. Ongoing research consistently demonstrates the detrimental impact of trauma, violence exposure, anxiety, and fear on mental health, often resulting in long-term, even permanent, negative psychiatric outcomes for trauma victims. For children, continuous exposure to trauma adversely affects their developing brains and emotional capacities, diminishing their …