This article is from the source 'bbc' and was first published or seen on . It last changed over 40 days ago and won't be checked again for changes.
You can find the current article at its original source at http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-africa-36367703
The article has changed 2 times. There is an RSS feed of changes available.
Previous version
1
Next version
Version 0 | Version 1 |
---|---|
South Africa's unemployment crisis: Begging for jobs | South Africa's unemployment crisis: Begging for jobs |
(about 11 hours later) | |
Young men holding placards market themselves as painters, plumbers, gardeners and builders in the busy streets of South Africa's main city of Johannesburg. | Young men holding placards market themselves as painters, plumbers, gardeners and builders in the busy streets of South Africa's main city of Johannesburg. |
This is not an uncommon scene in a country where unemployment stands at 26.7% - the highest on record since 1995, a year after the end of apartheid. | This is not an uncommon scene in a country where unemployment stands at 26.7% - the highest on record since 1995, a year after the end of apartheid. |
Since the beginning of the year, 300,000 jobs have also been lost, with the hardest hit being young people. | Since the beginning of the year, 300,000 jobs have also been lost, with the hardest hit being young people. |
"I've given up on job hunting after 12 years of trying, it's depressing," says Thabiso Molaka, who sells mobile phone chargers in Hyde Park, one of Johannesburg's posh northern suburbs. | "I've given up on job hunting after 12 years of trying, it's depressing," says Thabiso Molaka, who sells mobile phone chargers in Hyde Park, one of Johannesburg's posh northern suburbs. |
"I decided to start selling goods to feed my family," says the 28-year-old, who finished high school and travels hundreds of kilometres to get to Johannesburg every day. | |
'Crisis' | 'Crisis' |
Of South Africa's estimated five million people who are unemployed, 3.5 million are under 35, more than 170,000 of them, including Anthea Malwandle, are university graduates. | Of South Africa's estimated five million people who are unemployed, 3.5 million are under 35, more than 170,000 of them, including Anthea Malwandle, are university graduates. |
A photograph of Ms Malwandle holding a placard stating she had a degree in chemical engineering and was jobless recently went viral on social media. | A photograph of Ms Malwandle holding a placard stating she had a degree in chemical engineering and was jobless recently went viral on social media. |
"After job hunting for more than a year, I wondered if all the money and hard work spent on tertiary education were worth it," she subsequently told a local radio station. | "After job hunting for more than a year, I wondered if all the money and hard work spent on tertiary education were worth it," she subsequently told a local radio station. |
Thanks to the publicity, Ms Malwandle's future seems secure after a number of prospective employers phoned in, offering her a job. | Thanks to the publicity, Ms Malwandle's future seems secure after a number of prospective employers phoned in, offering her a job. |
The South African government has come under fire from its political opponents who blame it for the country's economic woes. | The South African government has come under fire from its political opponents who blame it for the country's economic woes. |
One in four people in the labour force failed to find work in 2015, a far cry from the government's goal of reducing unemployment to below 15% by 2014. | One in four people in the labour force failed to find work in 2015, a far cry from the government's goal of reducing unemployment to below 15% by 2014. |
The government insists it has made progress in tackling youth unemployment, though Buti Manamela, the minister in charge of youth development, admits there is a crisis. | The government insists it has made progress in tackling youth unemployment, though Buti Manamela, the minister in charge of youth development, admits there is a crisis. |
He says the government has been the biggest employer. | He says the government has been the biggest employer. |
"But this is unsustainable, the private sector has to come in," the minister says. | "But this is unsustainable, the private sector has to come in," the minister says. |
Most days in downtown Johannesburg, university students line up to drop off their CVs at a job-seekers centre called Harambee. | Most days in downtown Johannesburg, university students line up to drop off their CVs at a job-seekers centre called Harambee. |
The organisation tries to link young people who are currently locked out of the formal economy with prospective employers. | The organisation tries to link young people who are currently locked out of the formal economy with prospective employers. |
They are taught about the dos and don'ts of how to handle themselves during job interviews - and tips such as having professional email addresses. | They are taught about the dos and don'ts of how to handle themselves during job interviews - and tips such as having professional email addresses. |
'Feeding graduates' | 'Feeding graduates' |
"In most cases, young people are not aware of job opportunities that exist, so we go out there to recruit them," says Lebo Nke, an Harambee executive. | "In most cases, young people are not aware of job opportunities that exist, so we go out there to recruit them," says Lebo Nke, an Harambee executive. |
Looking for a job takes up a lot of energy. | Looking for a job takes up a lot of energy. |
Harambee has also found that feeding job seekers makes things a little easy for them. | Harambee has also found that feeding job seekers makes things a little easy for them. |
"Just by introducing peanut butter sandwiches and fruit, test assessment scores went up by 30%, because many of them come to our centres very hungry and therefore not able to put their best foot forward," says Ms Nke. | "Just by introducing peanut butter sandwiches and fruit, test assessment scores went up by 30%, because many of them come to our centres very hungry and therefore not able to put their best foot forward," says Ms Nke. |
Ms Malwandle may have captured the heart of the nation with her innovative way of getting the attention of potential employers. | Ms Malwandle may have captured the heart of the nation with her innovative way of getting the attention of potential employers. |
But the hundreds of thousands of graduates who remain unemployed cut face are unlikely to be so lucky. | But the hundreds of thousands of graduates who remain unemployed cut face are unlikely to be so lucky. |
Previous version
1
Next version