According to Stats SA, the current unemployment rate stands at 33.5% in the second quarter of 2024, an increase of 0,6% from 32.9% in the first quarter. Grocott’s Mail reporters Owethu Nokhangela and Kamvelihle Wonci asked Makhanda residents what they think can be done to bring down the unemployment rate in Makhanda.
Paddington Katuruza, in his 30s
The starting point of our question is, what unmet needs are there in Makhanda? In Makhanda there are not so many industries, so to solve the unemployment puzzle, the unmet needs puzzle has to be solved first.
Magda Fourie, in her 40s
Unemployment in Grahamstown is very big, so we must try and help each other just to survive. I am a saleswoman selling muffins, watches and bags and I try to create jobs for people too.
Andile Fani, in her 20s
I think the first thing we need to do would be like, obviously the corruption needs to end, because the large part of the reason why there is unemployment is because there is a lot of corruption. If you look around the town, you would see that there are a lot of job opportunities as there is not much maintenance, and if they could maintain the town, they could literally create jobs.
Rowan Fortune, in his 20s
Unemployment is a very vague thing but through Rhodes, the municipality could help with the unemployment rate. They could come up with courses for the people, they could even provide that for free. The municipality can negotiate with the university, the business school, to empower the youth. There is no way the municipality can just say ‘ohh let’s reduce unemployment by increasing jobs’, the thing is, how will they know that people will qualify for those jobs?
Sinethemba Mhlambiso, in his 30s
Why not inform people about opportunities? Why not introduce entrepreneurship as a development project? Employed people say ‘go friend and apply for the job’ knowing very well that they have their own people that they will employ even though they did not apply for the job, so I say, entrepreneurship is the way to. Give us resources and we will find our own way around it.
