December is heading our way, and it is heading faster than the money it seems leaked from the VSB Mutual Bank.
Yes, matrics are fervently writing exams, dreaming of the holidays and probably wondering what their future will hold.
After all, in our land of mayhem, you will find every state-owned enterprise is not only bankrupt but owes billions and where jobs are about as scarce as finding a number of decent Springbok scrum halves.
We have in the past discussed employment ad nauseam. However, this remains a matter of great urgency and concern, especially in the light of hundreds of learners from Boksburg either next year entering the job market or hoping that a tertiary education will pave the way for a brighter future.
Do you know South Africa has one of the highest unemployment rates in the world? Do you know that South Africa sits with the highest number of unemployed youth globally?
This is very serious because across the world nothing compares as horribly as SA’s economic outlook.
Over the years, South Africa’s unemployment rate has been blamed on the legacy of apartheid, poor education and training, weak labour demand, and a general lack of entrepreneurial interest.
The reality is that poor governance, incompetent leadership, and free-for-all corruption on the highest levels are the reasons why this land has been led to the tipping point of complete disaster.
This has led to such desperation that crime is rampant.
Do you know that countries like India and Pakistan, which have far greater populations than SA, sit with much lower unemployment?
India only has around 3.4 per cent, even though this translates to around 17 million considering their vast population that is only bested by China. Pakistan has around six per cent.
Yet it seems those governments are able to find work for the people, unlike in SA where a population of around 55 million is not really that many to feed.
Despite all the positivity and keeping the chin up, the reality is that South Africa has failed as a state.
Years ago a lot of people could find long-term work at huge parastatals like the railways, Iscor and Armscor. It was quite normal for employees to stay at one company for 35, 40 years or even longer while taking advantage of great medical aid and pension benefits.
After the worldwide recession in 2008, the picture changed considerably. Young people no longer found permanent employment and the benefits were greatly reduced.
In our frail economy where businesses and companies struggle to survive, job longevity has become part of folklore, hidden among the manuscripts of The Lord of the Rings.
In South Africa, we also face the startling reality that a lot of people are employed in jobs which aren’t really needed.
This is what happened under the reign of Zuma and so many became employed in the public sector, still earning a pretty penny yet their the country is unable to really pay them.
And yes, the state-owned enterprises, despite terrible management and looting, also kept employing, and in the process inflated management and paying them millions a month.
Just consider how many people are employed at fueling stations? Yet they are not really needed, but they get paid because it adds to the illusion of job creation.
Ever stopped and counted how many people are employed to fix a pothole or tar a road or fix a leaking pipe? Most of them will only stand around chatting, some might be waving a flag, but most of them are not needed.
Yet they are ’employed’. Technically our unemployment rate is probably closer to 45 per cent.
Sadly, the country cannot be fixed with taxes anymore, because there are not enough people working. Hiking the VAT has only crippled the country even further.
But despite all of this, at least we can look forward to Christmas, hoping to get a five-litre can of petrol under the tree.
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