DA concerned about unemployment rate

The Democratic Alliance (DA) in Limpopo has placed the blame for the loss of 35 000 jobs in the province in the fourth quarter of 2017 squarely on the shoulders of the ruling party government.
In a media statement issued late on Tuesday, DA Provincial Leader Jacques Smalle expressed concern about the 0,5% increase in the unemployment rate of the province, bringing the figure to 19,6%. The large loss of jobs in the province was a symptom of an ANC-led provincial government out of touch with the needs of its population and devoid of any semblance of good governance or ideas of how to create new jobs, he said.
Quoting the Quarterly Labour Force Survey released on Tuesday, Smalle raised concern about the trade sector having lost 37 000 jobs during the quarter under review.
The expanded unemployment rate of 36,8% in Limpopo represented a 1% increase from the previous quarter and was higher than the national average, he said.
Smalle stressed that the huge job losses in the trade sector were further compounded by the fact that the Department of Economic Development, Environment and Tourism has made available R124 million in loan capital, of which an amount of R86,8 million that translated into 67%, was lost as irrecoverable and bad debt. “This points to a provincial government that has failed to practice sound and sustainable financial management and effectively support a key sector and major contributor to employment in the province.”
Smalle opined that it was unacceptable that today over 2,3 million people of a working age in the province couldn’t participate in the labour force. “To further compound the matter, the province has 379 000 discouraged work seekers and the main reasons for not seeking work are no jobs available in the area, unable to find work requiring their skills and largely because of the loss of hope in finding any kind of work.”
“The DA is committed to increasing opportunities for the disadvantaged members of society and creating jobs through investing in infrastructure led growth, support to small and micro enterprises, good governance and creating a conducive environment for investment.”
He concluded that Limpopo needed total change, where a DA-led government put the people first by ensuring that job opportunities were created, especially for the youth.

Story: YOLANDE NEL
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