GALLERY: The ripple effects of Marikana strike

Finding a job in South Africa has gotten a lot worse with passing years.

Nobody knows that better than Rachél Smit.

According to recent statistics, the jobless rate in South Africa increased to 26.4 per cent in the first three months of 2015 from 24.3 per cent in the preceding quarter.

It is the highest rate since 2005, as unemployment rose by 12.8 per cent per quarter, while employment grew at a slower 0.9 per cent.

Smit was well established in a small business operating in Rustenburg until the Marikana strikes, hit the area.

And all went from bad to worse.

“I was running my own computer training business in Rustenburg for 15 years. But due to the constant strikes at the platinum mines, my business had to close down. I could not afford to pay for rent, school fees and take care of my two children. It was very hard and painful to see all my hard work go down the drain because of the Marikana strikes,” Smit shared.

She said she looked for work but nothing came out of it.

“I searched recruitment sites, such as jobrapido, careers24 and others. I sent more than 2 000 CVs and only went to four job interviews,” Smit said.

She said she almost gave up but her brother asked her to come to Johannesburg and she moved to Sonneglans in December 2014.

Again, she started her job search. “In six months of looking for a job, and not finding one, I knew that I had to make a drastic plan to survive.”

Smit said she almost gave up when her brother Hercules Smit and sister-in-law Martie came to her rescue.

She added that after going from bank to bank applying for a loan and being turned down, they offered to fund her.

On 4 June she finally opened the Wild West Biltong Bar with financial support from her brother.

“I contacted Brightwater Commons Shopping Center and inquired about space availability and rent. I was lucky to get business space to use and I opened on 4 June. My brother funded my business and I have another chance of making a living,” Smit said.

It could be argued that Smit is one of many who is affected by the Marikana strikes and tragedy, yet President Jacob Zuma has still not released the report on it.

Funding Wild West Biltong Bar

Rent and deposit: R5 000

Initial stock: R6 000

Equipment: R15 000