‘Why issue tenders to build schools?’ - Mkhwanazi calls for jobs for unemployed youth

KwaZulu-Natal police commissioner Lieutenant-General Nhlanhla Mkhwanazi has called for the government to create jobs through public infrastructure projects as a way to tackle both crime and youth unemployment. Speaking at the Parliamentary Summit on Gangs and Violent Crime, Mkhwanazi suggested that the government should rethink how it issues tenders for public works projects, as the current system often leads to corruption and leaves people without meaningful employment opportunities.

Mkhwanazi pointed out that with high levels of unemployment in South Africa, it's puzzling why the government continues to issue tenders for public projects like building schools. He advocated for using unemployed graduates to supervise construction projects, while employing individuals without formal qualifications in roles such as mixing cement and laying bricks.

This approach could be applied to various types of infrastructure, including schools, clinics, hospitals, police stations, and road infrastructure. He argued that excessive outsourcing of work to private companies contributes to unemployment and fuels criminality, as people without jobs may turn to illegal activities out of desperation.

The police commissioner's remarks come amid a rise in South Africa's official unemployment rate to 33.6% in the second quarter of 2026, with the number of unemployed people increasing by 345,000 to 8.5 million between April and June. The labour force survey showed that while the number of employed people fell by 16,000, the labour force still grew by 329,000. This pushed the official unemployment rate up by 0.9 percentage points from 32.7% in the first quarter.

Mkhwanazi emphasized that addressing unemployment and a lack of meaningful opportunities is crucial in tackling gang violence and crime. He stressed the need for a holistic approach to solving the problem, rather than relying solely on law enforcement. Mkhwanazi called for a collective, non-partisan approach to addressing the country's crime and unemployment crises, urging South Africans to put aside political differences and work together to find solutions.