ANCYL demands urgent government action youth unemployment as rate hits 33.6%

The African National Congress Youth League (ANCYL) has urged President Cyril Ramaphosa to declare youth unemployment a national disaster due to South Africa's official unemployment rate reaching 33.6% in the second quarter of 2026. The increase in unemployment, from 32.7% in the first quarter, comes after the number of unemployed people rose by 345,000 to 8.5 million between April and June, according to Statistics South Africa's latest Quarterly Labour Force Survey.

ANCYL secretary-general Tsakani Shiviti emphasized that the crisis highlights the urgent need for government intervention, stating that ordinary interventions are insufficient. Shiviti called for a focused response on the real economy, sustainable work creation, and supporting youth-owned businesses and cooperatives. She also urged the private sector to play a more significant role in tackling unemployment, emphasizing that the government cannot tackle the crisis alone.

ActionSA MP Alan Beesley added that employment had declined by 361,000 in the first half of 2026, with the expanded unemployment rate reaching 43.8%. Beesley criticized the manufacturing sector's decline, particularly since it provides relatively higher-value employment and supports supply chains. He also raised concerns about illicit trade and corruption, urging President Ramaphosa to replace ministers responsible for employment, economic growth, trade, industry, and small business development.