Should government declare a state of emergency over rising unemployment in South Africa?

The Federation of South African Unions (Fedusa) is urging the government to declare a state of emergency regarding the escalating unemployment crisis in the nation. Recent data from Stats SA indicates that South Africa's official unemployment rate climbed to 33.6% in the second quarter of 2026, a 0.9 percentage point increase from the previous quarter.

The unemployment rate rose due to 345,000 more individuals joining the ranks of the jobless, now totaling 8.5 million, while the number of employed citizens dropped by 16,000 to 16.7 million. Fedusa's general secretary, Riefdah Ajam, expressed deep concern over the fact that approximately 3.7 million South Africans are discouraged job seekers, highlighting that these are people who are willing and capable of working but are deterred by the lack of employment opportunities.

Ajam called for immediate action, arguing that unemployment in South Africa should be treated as a "state of emergency" due to the country's high unemployment rate, which is among the highest globally. She stressed that unemployment is not just a number but a symptom of deepening inequality in society, directly affecting households with little or no income, forcing families to depend on social grants, donations, and other forms of assistance to make ends meet.

Fedusa sees the country equipped with the necessary policies, programs, and resources to tackle unemployment and inequality. However, Ajam emphasized that the real challenge lies in the effective implementation of these measures. She stressed that government cannot single-handedly address the unemployment crisis. Instead, a collective effort from government, business, and organized labor is required.

The private sector plays a crucial role in job creation, skills development, infrastructure development, and partnering with the government to advance economic reforms.

Fedusa pointed out that one of the key commitments at the recent Jobs Summit was to create and protect jobs through promoting economic growth, investment, and industrial development while supporting distressed firms and workers. They also suggested a moratorium on retrenchments could help reduce unemployment by safeguarding current jobs during economic downturns.

However, this measure must be carefully balanced with the financial sustainability of businesses. Fedusa concluded by urging government, business, and all social partners to enhance collaboration and swiftly implement practical and sustainable measures to create decent employment opportunities, reduce inequality, and restore hope to millions of South Africans.