By OBAKENG MAJE
Action SA has called on the government to reflect on perpetuating the prevalence of unemployed university graduates in South Africa. This comes after an outcry as the unemployment rate, especially amongst the youth, reaches an all-time high.
Action SA Team Fix SA member for Higher Education, Dr Tutu Faleni said, the government should reflect on issues that perpetuate the prevalence of unemployed graduates in South Africa. Faleni said the celebration of Workers Day came at a time when the country is at an all-time high regarding the unemployment rate, including graduates from Higher Learning Institutions.
“The 2024 National Elections serve as a time of reflection on what has been achieved by the government regarding the creation of an economy that allows graduates produced annually by the higher institutions of learning to get employed and use the skills gained.
“These are young people, the majority of whom made huge personal sacrifices to obtain a higher education training and qualification, with hopes that their country will award them employment opportunities,” he said.
Faleni further said it is disheartening to see these university graduates join the continuously expanding pool of unemployment, to an extent of taking their plight to the streets in protest. He added that, this country cannot continue awarding unemployed graduates with a R350 social distress grant, instead of fixing the economy to enable employment opportunities.
“We also believe that the state’s ultimate goal should be to provide services and foster the environment necessary for socio-economic prosperity and upward mobility, rather than being directly involved in job or income creation.
“Action SA believes that drastic steps should be taken to provide employment to the many unemployed university graduates who have not in their lifetime enjoyed the benefits of full time employment,” said Faleni.
He said they believe that increased access to education should be accompanied with an increase in economic opportunities to achieve prosperity and upward mobility for unemployed graduates.
Meanwhile, the Minister of Employment and Labour, Thulas Nxesi said: “As department, May Day serves dual purposes – a celebration of workers’ rights and a poignant reminder of the pivotal role that trade unions, the communist party and other labour organisations played in the struggle against apartheid.
“Workers’ Day in South Africa carries its unique cultural significance. The public holiday has come to symbolise not only the sacrifices made in an arduous journey towards fair employment standards but also the fierce battle against apartheid, where trade and labour played a crucial role.”
Nxesi said given that South Africa’s working classes were the most oppressed under apartheid, the fight for improved working conditions and the battle to dismantle systematic segregation became inextricably linked.
He said prior to the 1994 elections, labour and trade groups frequently used Workers’ Day as a rallying symbol against segregation and oppression of the apartheid regime, organising demonstrations and fostering widespread resistance.
“This day serves as a testament to their resilience and determination,” the department said,” said Nxesi.
TaungDailyNews 