Unemployment a National Disaster

The ruling party’s youth wing insists youth unemployment meets all national disaster criteria

The African National Congress Youth League (ANCYL) called on President Cyril Ramaphosa to declare youth unemployment a national disaster, citing that due to this, many families are unable to enjoy the festive season because of hunger and deepening economic exclusion. According to the ruling party’s youth wing, the scale and persistence of the unemployment crisis, particularly among young people, demand an extraordinary and coordinated response from the state. “The ANCYL reiterates its call on the President of the Republic to urgently declare youth unemployment a national disaster. “This crisis meets all the criteria of a national disaster and must be treated with the urgency it deserves,” the statement read, adding that by declaring unemployment a national disaster will allow the state to mobilise resources, fast-track interventions, remove bureaucratic delays, and implement bold, youth-centred economic programmes at scale. Statistics South Africa figures show that unemployment in South Africa was sitting at 31.9% in the third quarter - a slight decline from 33.2% in the second quarter. In the third quarter of 2024 the unemployment figure sat at 32,1%, with youth unemployment making up 45,5% of the un employed population. The Youth League further stressed that this will also send a clear message that the government recognises the depth of the cri sis and is prepared to act decisively in the interests of the people. South Africa hosted its first G20 Leaders’ summit in November 2025, which was expected to boost the tourism sector, which also brought hope that there would be job creation. It was among countries like Argentina, Turkey, and Japan with the lowest unemployment rate, while it was leading the pack with the highest number. ANCYL has called on the government and sworn to continue fighting for the economic freedom, dignity, and future of young people. “The ANCYL calls on all spheres of government to prioritise mass youth employment, industrialisation, skills development, localisation, support for youth-owned enterprises, and the expansion of public employment programmes as immediate relief measures. Long-term structural reforms must also be accelerated to ensure sustain able and inclusive economic growth,” said the statement. They added that they refuse to normalise unemployment and poverty as permanent features of democracy and that the youth of South Africa deserve more than survival; they deserve opportunity, hope, and a future.