South Africa’s ‘ticking time bomb’

South Africa’s unemployment crisis is a “ticking time bomb” threatening economic stability and political trust.

In a queue so long that its start was out of sight, Maleshwane Lethaba stood among thousands of young South Africans hoping for a chance at work. At 23, she had spent more than two years searching for a job.

Last week, she waited hours in Johannesburg to apply for one of 500 apprenticeships at Cartrack, a vehicle security company that received over 7,000 applications.

“I have tried countless times. It would mean everything for me to get this job,” said Lethaba.

Sunshine Morweng, who graduated from university with a degree in accounting science, joined Lethaba in the queue for a job in a totally unrelated field.

“Imagine how many are still sitting at home and haven’t heard of this or can’t get here. It’s scary.”

Lethaba and Morweng’s struggle is one that millions of South Africans share in a country battling one of the highest unemployment rates in the world.

With an overall unemployment rate of 32.1% and an alarming 60.2% among those aged 15 to 24, the scale of joblessness is among the worst in the world.

Experts warn that unless drastic action is taken, the consequences could be dire.

The economy has struggled to create sufficient employment opportunities, adding only 526,000 jobs between 2019 and 2024 while 1.8 million new job seekers entered the labour market.

This gap between job creation and demand has left millions of South Africans without a source of income, eroding confidence in both the economy and the political system.

South Africa’s sluggish economic growth—averaging below 1% annually over the past decade—has been a key contributor to this crisis.

The World Bank has projected a 1.8% growth rate in 2025, an improvement over previous estimates but still far below the 3% needed to make a meaningful dent in unemployment.

A ticking time bomb

Without stronger economic expansion, job opportunities will remain scarce, and frustration among the unemployed will continue to build.

Beyond the numbers, the social consequences of joblessness are severe. High unemployment rates are strongly linked to increased crime, social unrest, and political instability.

South Africa has already witnessed the effects of economic despair, with the 2021 riots and looting serving as a stark warning of what could happen if the crisis deepens.

Prolonged unemployment weakens the social fabric and fosters resentment, particularly among young people who see little hope for a better future.

South Africa’s high level of joblessness is a “ticking time bomb,” said Keabetswe Mojapelo, a macroeconomist at Rand Merchant Bank.

“Having so many people unemployed over a long period does have an adverse impact on not just the economy, but social cohesion.”

Experts caution that South Africa risks creating a “lost generation” of young people who fail to gain the skills and experience necessary for long-term employment.

With half of the country’s working-age population under 35 and only six million of them employed, the economic exclusion of youth could have lasting consequences.

The International Labour Organization (ILO) has warned that persistently high youth unemployment can lead to long-term structural damage, making it even harder to create jobs in the future.

The Government of National Unity (GNU), formed after the African National Congress (ANC) lost its majority for the first time since 1994, has prioritised economic growth and job creation.

However, many remain sceptical of its ability to turn the situation around.

Years of unfulfilled promises have left South Africans disillusioned, with each new pledge for job creation met with increasing doubt.

Finance Minister Enoch Godongwana is set to deliver the national budget on 19 February, a key moment when the GNU must outline concrete policies to stimulate economic growth and employment.

If the GNU fails to address joblessness effectively, voter frustration could drive increased support for populist opposition parties, further destabilising the country’s political landscape.

With municipal elections on the horizon in 2026, the upcoming years will be crucial in determining whether the government can regain public trust by delivering tangible economic improvements.

Reported with Bloomberg