Locals voice their opinions on latest unemployment figures
Polokwane Observer spoke to hawkers in the city's central business district to hear their views on the latest unemployment figures by Stats South Africa.
Sebasa Mogale is a hawker in the City of Polokwane.
POLOKWANE – The latest unemployment figures, by Stats South Africa, show that Limpopo created a total of 133 000 jobs in the last quarter, a slight decrease from the previous term.
Yet, close to 50% of citizens here are still without jobs.
According to Statistics South Africa’s Quarterly Labour Force Survey for the fourth quarter of 2022, Limpopo has the third highest expanded unemployment rate (49.9%) after the provinces of the Eastern Cape (53%) and the Northern Cape (50.3%) and it is a matter of concern that the province now has about 700 000 people who are desperate for a job and 511 000 who has given up hope of ever finding the means to earn a living.
The expanded unemployment rate reflects on the job seekers who have given up to find any new jobs in a scenario where it is difficult to get employment. Narrow unemployment refers to the people who are unemployed but are seeking jobs and trying to get some work.
Nationwide, roughly 16 million people were unemployed during the fourth quarter.
Polokwane Observer spoke to hawkers in the city’s central business district to hear views.
“Working for someone rips you off your worth and that is why I started my business. I used to get R800.00 a month while working for someone. I spent most of my time learning about the running of their business so that I start mine also. Now, I make enough to restock fruits to sell and take care of my needs. Depending on this weak government to get thigs done will not help us much,” says Veronica Thantsha.“There are too many people in South Africa competing for jobs and that is why I have always relied on my business ideas to make a living instead of expecting to be employed. I started selling clothes in 2014 and upgraded to selling chemical insect killers until I expanded my business to sell fresh produce too. The country is getting poorer due to overpopulation, especially because of cross-border immigration, and that is why the unemployment rate decrease will not have the needed impact. I am just glad that my selling helps me sustain most of my household,” says Rose Mogashwa.“The great increase in employment will be met by very meagre salaries, that is why I am unimpressed. I urge people to consider selling something. The money I make now, for the 15 years, has been better than during the time I was employed and I had deductions on my salary. Here, I make my own decisions,” says Justice Makubela.“I care very little about the statistics because they hardly show what is really experienced on the ground. I stayed unemployed for 10 years until I started my business 15 years ago. I make R500.00 a day excluding stock and filling my gas bottle. The profit sustains my household needs and I never run out of petty cash to live by,” says Jonas Maponya.“I used to work for a creche and my contract ended, so that made me start my own business. I was also getting older which reduces my chances of employment. It is good that there is a decrease in the country’s unemployment rate. It is only unfortunate that salaries keep being reduced significantly since the pandemic. I make R3 500 a month from selling fruit and vegetables and from this, I am able to take care of my family’s needs. Even so, profits are not as great as it used to be, because there are fewer customers as people tighten their belts,” says Sebasa Mogale.For more breaking news follow us on FacebookTwitter Instagram or join our WhatsApp group
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