VIDEO: Criminals break in for food as hunger bites

Data from Statistics SA has revealed that poverty and hunger are on the rise, and with that the number of break-ins where food is stolen, Centurion Rekord reports.

“Other surveys that we have run show that hunger has grown and poverty has increased…when we look at other correlation it could be that times are tough,” Statistician-General, Dr Pali Lehohla, said at a briefing at Isibalo House in Salvokop, Pretoria on Thursday.

Lehohla revealed that housebreaking incidences where food was stolen stood at 22,8% in the second quarter of 2017.

this is in the wake of an increasingly high unemployment rate.

READ MORE: Housebreaking suspect nabbed in KZN

Quarterly employment survey results showed the economy shed 34 000 jobs during the second quarter of this year.

The statistician-general said job losses were mainly in the manufacturing sector, 13 000, construction 11 000 and community services 10 000. Further job losses were also observed in transport and communication sectors, 5 000 as well as in the business services sector at 1 000 in the quarter.

It is, however, not all doom and gloom as mining and quarrying emerged as a shining example for job creation showing a slight increase.

Lehohla said employment increased by 3 000 jobs in trade and mining industries.

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– Caxton News Service