South Africa unemployment rate rises to 33.6%

South Africa’s unemployment rate has risen to 33.6%, according to the latest Quarterly Labour Force Survey from Statistics South Africa. The Congress of South African Trade Unions (Cosatu) has described the situation as an “alarming” crisis, noting that an additional 345,000 people are now unemployed.

Cosatu Parliamentary Coordinator Matthew Parks highlighted that youth unemployment has exceeded 62%, affecting approximately five million young people. Parks warned of the danger of creating a “permanent class of unemployed persons” and noted that the economic strain is exacerbated by rising fuel prices, which have seen petrol increase by 25% and diesel by 50%.

In response to these economic challenges, the Empact Group has released its first sustainability report. The food services company stated it is aligning its operations with the United Nations’ Sustainable Development Goals to address social and economic inclusion and improve governance structures.