This, as the House is tomorrow expected to hold the much anticipated provincial youth parliament.

The debate to be held virtually is expected to address questions of youth unemployment, education, lack of funding for entrepreneurs, and how life is amidst the Covid-19 pandemic. The debates comes as the country draws to the end of Youth Month, with many young people having called on President Cyril Ramaphosa and his cabinet to address the challenge of unemployment. According to the latest Quarterly Labour Force Survey released on Tuesday, the number of unemployed South Africans now stands at 30.1% with young people and women still the hardest hit.

The report indicated that approximately 8,5 million (41,7%) of the 20,4 million young people aged 15-34 years were not in employment, education or training.

Releasing the figures for the first quarter of 2020, Statistician Risenga Malule indicated that the unemployment rate among the youth is higher irrespective of their education level and for those aged between 25-34, it is more than double that of people in the age group of 45-54.  

He highlighted that the Northern Cape has recorded the highest rate of young people aged 15-24 years not in employment, education or training, followed by KwaZulu-Natal and the North West.

While the Eastern Cape has recorded the highest official and expanded unemployment rate in the country, it is followed by the Free State at 38.4%.

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