President Cyril Ramaphosa pledges to address South Africa's unemployment crisis by investing heavily in infrastructure and promoting youth employment. However, critics argue that his State of the Nation Address lacked detailed plans and measurable outcomes.
President Cyril Ramaphosa outlined his government's commitment to tackling unemployment as a top priority for 2025 during his State of the Nation Address (SONA). He emphasized that South Africa will invest approximately R940 billion in infrastructure projects over the next three years, aiming to stimulate economic growth and create job opportunities.
Ramaphosa stated that this investment will be crucial in driving inclusive growth and job creation, noting that the government's most urgent task is to expand the economy to alleviate poverty and improve the lives of all South Africans. To achieve these objectives, Ramaphosa proposed a graduate recruitment scheme to attract talented individuals into the public service. He also highlighted the potential of investing in digital public infrastructure, emphasizing its ability to leverage the expertise of local technology graduates and professionals. Ramaphosa stressed the importance of achieving a 3% GDP growth rate in the coming years, recognizing that this ambitious target requires clear execution strategies from the government to facilitate job creation.While Ramaphosa outlined government initiatives, including support for youth, black-owned, women-led, and disabled-owned businesses, experts expressed concerns that concrete plans and measurable outcomes were lacking. Nkosinathi Mahlangu, a youth employment expert at Momentum, commended Ramaphosa's commitment to addressing unemployment but urged for defined timelines and tangible results. Mahlangu also questioned the effectiveness of government-led job creation programs, advocating for policies that empower the private sector and encourage entrepreneurship. He argued that South Africa's G20 presidency offers a unique opportunity to prioritize youth employment, entrepreneurship, and financial inclusion on the global stage. The Foundation for Rights of Expression and Equality (Free SA) echoed these sentiments, criticizing the government's focus on expanding its own role in employment and urging Ramaphosa to reduce red tape, ease labor laws, and foster a more business-friendly environment
South Africa Cyril Ramaphosa Unemployment State Of The Nation Address Infrastructure Investment Economic Growth Youth Employment Private Sector Entrepreneurship
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