POLOKWANE – A resident has resorted to starting his own business so he does not have to go to bed on an empty stomach. Lucky Magolego, sells snacks on the corner of Witklip and Bulawayo Street in Ladanna, in the hopes of getting funding from the National Youth Development Agency (NYDA) in order for his business to grow. “I will then be able to hire people which means I will help to reduce the unemployment rate,” he said. Spokesperson for the Premier, Kenny Mathivha says the province’s main sources of job creation have not been doing well.
“We are one of the poorest provinces in the country, our main source of employment is in the agriculture and mining sector. Agriculture’s jobs are seasonal and the reason why we lost more jobs is because there was no rain.”
He added that the province has come up with strategies to combat unemployment.
“We have come up with strategies to assist the job market in the province which will be heard from the premier when he delivers the State of the Province Address (SOPA).
“Another strategy is that we will employ 300 young people through MIC SETA and Gijima ICT.”
Read more: Opposition guns for Limpopo premier after more job losses
Meanwhile, the Provincial Leader of the (DA), Jacques Smalle says provincial unemployment figures should be a concern to all spheres of government and that sustainable solutions should be thought of.
According to a survey conducted by Statistics South Africa’s Quarterly Labour Force, Limpopo lost 35 000 jobs in the last quarter..
“During the last three months of 2019, 35 000 more people in Limpopo lost their jobs. This comes after more than 77 000 people in the province already lost their jobs last year.”