Mkhwanazi advocates for job creation to combat crime and youth unemployment

KwaZulu-Natal's police chief, Lieutenant-General Nhlanhla Mkhwanazi, is urging the government to create jobs through public infrastructure projects as a means of tackling crime and youth unemployment. At the Parliamentary Summit on Gangs and Violent Crime, Mkhwanazi, who also leads the National Organised Crime Task Team, suggested the government rethink its tender process for public works projects to foster employment opportunities.

Tender corruption is rampant in South Africa, often involving price inflation, conflicts of interest, and awarding contracts to politically connected companies, diverting public funds from essential services and projects. Mkhwanazi proposed utilizing unemployed graduates to supervise construction projects and employing unskilled individuals in roles like cement mixing and bricklaying. This approach could be extended to schools, clinics, hospitals, police stations, and road infrastructure.

The police commissioner argued that excessive outsourcing of government work contributes to unemployment, leaving people without meaningful opportunities. He emphasized that when people are unemployed, they become idle, making them susceptible to criminal activities. Mkhwanazi stressed that addressing unemployment and creating meaningful employment opportunities should be part of a holistic response to gang violence and crime.

The South African official unemployment rate surged to 33.6% in the second quarter of 2026, with the number of unemployed people increasing by 345,000 to 8.5 million. This rise highlights the persistent labour market challenges in the country. Statistics South Africa's Quarterly Labour Force Survey revealed that the number of employed individuals dropped by 16,000 to 16.7 million, while the labor force expanded by 329,000 during the quarter. South Africa's highest recorded official unemployment rate was 35.3% in the fourth quarter of 2021.

Mkhwanazi emphasized that addressing unemployment and lack of meaningful opportunities is crucial in tackling gang violence and crime. He called for a non-partisan, collective approach to fix the underlying conditions contributing to crime, rather than solely relying on law enforcement. The SAPS management acknowledged the summit discussions and would engage with its national head office on potential responses to the crisis.