Ramaphosa says unemployment keeps him awake at night

President Cyril Ramaphosa has expressed concern over the high levels of unemployment in the country, revealing that the issue often keeps him awake at night.

Speaking at Sun City in Rustenburg on Wednesday during the ANC's January 8 celebrations preparations, Ramaphosa acknowledged the country's ongoing challenges, including crime, state capture, and other socio-economic issues, but stressed that unemployment remains one of his biggest priorities.

“The issue of unemployment keeps all of us here on the stage awake,” he said, adding that the gravity of the situation particularly troubles him personally.

“It especially keeps me awake at night in terms of trying to find solutions.”

His comments come just days after ANC national chairperson Gwede Mantashe sparked controversy during an interview with SABC.

Mantashe criticised the dynamic between government and society, suggesting that many South Africans have become passive and expect the state to deliver all services.

“We have created a situation where people sit back, you sit in the sun, and expect the state to deliver,” he said, adding that this mindset was a mistake in governance.

Mantashe argued that the country needed to move from a passive society to an active one where citizens take responsibility for their own success.

He also spoke about a conversation he had with a young woman who complained about the lack of job opportunities despite receiving an education.

“The ANC has provided you with a fishing rod; now you expect the ANC to catch the fish for you,” Mantashe remarked, urging a shift in mindset among the public.

Addressing the broader issue of public expectations, Mantashe, who is over 70 years old, added: “I am over 70 years old; the government has never looked for a job for me. Today, because there is a progressive government, people expect the government to give them jobs; they do not look for jobs, and that must change.”

The President outlined that addressing unemployment requires urgent action and collaboration across all sectors.

“On the way here, I was talking to the Minister of Finance Enoch Godongwana,” Ramaphosa said.

“Minister, we need to mobilise more money so that we can create jobs for the young people of our country, so that we can find ways of creating jobs, but also working with the private sector.”

He emphasised that the private sector, which controls 75% of South Africa's economy, plays a crucial role in finding sustainable solutions to the country's job crisis.

“So we need to harness them, to mobilise them, to make sure that they work with us to create jobs,” he said.

Ramaphosa also spoke about efforts to strengthen the public sector, particularly state-owned entities like Eskom and Transnet, which are vital to the country’s economic stability.

“We are strengthening the public sector. We are strengthening Eskom and Transnet and making progress on an ongoing basis,” he added.

The President acknowledged that while the government can take the lead in addressing economic challenges, it is the collaboration between the public and private sectors that will be key to resolving the unemployment crisis.

“The organisation that is the leading governing party, together with others in the Government of National Unity (GNU), is renewing itself, repositioning itself, and rebuilding itself,” he said.

The President expressed confidence in the ANC's ability to restore public trust and deliver practical solutions to the country's critical challenges.

In his address, Ramaphosa also praised the resilience of the South African people, saying, “I have never seen you lose heart, I have never seen you lose hope.”

He expressed gratitude for their continued support, emphasising that their spirit of perseverance would be crucial in overcoming the nation’s obstacles.

hope.ntanzi@iol.co.za

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