Mashatile: We are 'very concerned' about SA's high levels of unemployment

Deputy President Paul Mashatile said that the country’s high unemployment remains concerning and a top priority, as it implements its economic reform plans. 

He said that the marginal drop in the unemployment rate brings him no comfort. 

On Tuesday, Stats SA announced the official unemployment rate decreased in seven provinces between the second and third quarters of the year.

The overall unemployment rate also dropped slightly to 31.9 percent.

Answering questions in the National Assembly on Tuesday afternoon, Mashatile agreed with Build One South Africa (BOSA) leader Mmusi Maimane that education and skills should be placed at the top of government’s reform agenda. 

He said that the Human Resources and Development Council, which he leads, was working with business, labour and NGOs to address the matter, particularly among young people.

"We are very concerned about high levels of unemployment, even when sometimes they say unemployment has declined a bit, by one percent, we don’t become excited, because it’s still high. And therefore we need to do everything to ensure that these plans that we are reviewing, we are reviewing them to ensure they are implemented faster." 

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