statistics south africalatest news & developments
Youth unemployment rose to 43.8% among 15-to-34-year-olds in Q4 2025, even as the headline rate fell. (Delwyn Verasamy/M&G)

Unemployment rate eases but structural crisis deepens

The decline brings the official rate to its lowest level since the Covid-19 shock pushed unemployment above 30%

  • Stella Mapenzauswa
4 min read
The future of the Social Relief of Distress (SRD) grant beyond the March 2027 extension remains uncertain. Archive photo: Chris Gilili

Future of SRD grant uncertain, treasury says

The Universal Basic Income Coalition said the government’s proposals to link the grant to employment-related conditions could exclude eligible beneficiaries

  • Eyaaz
3 min read
Demanding change: Women across South Africa are stepping back from work on Friday to draw attention to the country’s rising levels of gender-based violence. This comes as heads of state, ministers and delegations arrive in South Africa for the G20 summit. Photo: Delwyn Verasamy

National shutdown to put spotlight on gender violence on eve of G20 summit

Advocacy group Women for Change argues that South Africa ‘cannot host the world’s most powerful leaders while a woman is killed every two-and-a-half hours’

  • Eyaaz
6 min read
Youth unemployment rose to 43.8% among 15-to-34-year-olds in Q4 2025, even as the headline rate fell. (Delwyn Verasamy/M&G)

SA’s unemployment is not a statistical construct; it’s a real and painful hardship

For the millions of jobless people, this discussion is trivial

  • Eyaaz
6 min read
With youth month around the corner, education support networks have raised the alarm on the persistent underperformance and marginalisation of boys in the education system. (Delwyn Verasamy/M&G)

Calls grow to address marginalisation of boys in education system

In 2022, the out-of-school rate was 10.54% for boys, compared with 8.17% for girls

  • Umamah Bakharia
5 min read
Consumer inflation edged higher to April to 2.8% year-on-year from 2.7% in March, driven mainly by the housing and utilities as well as the alcoholic beverages and tobacco categories, Statistics South Africa said on Wednesday.

April consumer inflation edges higher to 2.8% year-on-year

April’s slight uptick suggests that the Reserve Bank will keep the benchmark repo rate at 7.5% next week

  • Aarti Bhana
2 min read
File photo

SA’s unemployment rate edges up to 32.9%

Jobs were lost in the formal sector, as well as in trade, construction and private households

  • Aarti Bhana
1 min read
The market requires entrepreneurialism, innovation, critical thinking, decisiveness and problem-solving abilities, but most schools and tertiary institutions don’t support this. Photo: AFP

New world of work requires new minds

Activity-based and experiential learning should be encouraged at school and tertiary institutions so that the academic curricula must align with new realities.

6 min read
Consumer inflation edged higher to April to 2.8% year-on-year from 2.7% in March, driven mainly by the housing and utilities as well as the alcoholic beverages and tobacco categories, Statistics South Africa said on Wednesday.

Consumer inflation ticks up for third straight month as Stats SA adjusts basket

The South African Reserve Bank has warned of an upside risk to the inflation outlook

  • Eyaaz
1 min read
On a month-on-month basis

Inflation cools to 3.8% in September

This is the lowest reading for inflation in South Africa since April 2021

  • Aarti Bhana
2 min read
Poor people in urban areas rely heavily on informal markets for their food supply, because they are often more accessible, cheaper and sell produce in smaller quantities than supermarkets. (Photo by Hoberman Collection/Universal Images Group via Getty Images)

Food Security

With over 65% of South Africa’s population now living in cities, this shift has altered the landscape and dynamics of food security

  • Derek Davey
16 min read
Leonie O’Connell, a financial adviser at Momentum Financial Planning.

Dealing with the financial implications of getting divorced in your older years

Seeking professional financial advice can help mitigate the financial consequences of a separation

  • Derek Davey
4 min read
Unemployed men inJohannesburg wait on a street corner for work for part-time work. Photo: Naashon Zalk/Bloomberg/Getty Images

Unemployment in South Africa is a national crisis, say analysts

With joblessness at a two-year high of 33.5%, more effort is needed to restructure the jobs market

  • Eyaaz
7 min read
On the up: Unemployment increased to 33.5% in the last quarter. ​​​​(Dino Lloyd/Gallo Images via Getty Images)

Unemployment rises to 33.5% in the second quarter

Joblessness increased for the third consecutive quarter, reaching its highest level in two years

2 min read
Despite unemployment rates, Gen Z has found a way to make ends meet.

Inflation eases in June to lowest rate this year

Statistics South Africa data released on Wednesday showed that the CPI annual rate was 5.1% in June compared with 5.2% in May This content is restricted to registered users and subscribers. Get Your Free Account The Mail & Guardian is committed to providing all our readers with the best possible experience. Please register your free account now. Your registration is your first step to becoming an M&G community member. Register Registration enables: – M&G newsletters access – notifications – the best possible experience Already registered? Login here Want to subscribe and get even more benefits? Explore our subscription offers

  • Eyaaz
1 min read

High interest rates lock prospective homeowners out of property market

A survey found that residential rental vacancies had dropped to their lowest level since 2016, as buying becomes less attainable

  • Des Erasmus
6 min read
Despite unemployment rates, Gen Z has found a way to make ends meet.

Inflation holds firm in May

Still-sticky inflation could further delay long-awaited interest rate cuts

  • Eyaaz
1 min read
Despite the suspenison of load-shedding since early April, South Africa’s economy did not benefit. Photographer: Waldo Swiegers/Bloomberg via Getty Images

GDP data: SA’s economy contracts in first quarter of 2024

The economy did not benefit from the suspended load-shedding initiated in early April

  • Eyaaz
2 min read
Unemployed men inJohannesburg wait on a street corner for work for part-time work. Photo: Naashon Zalk/Bloomberg/Getty Images

Unemployment increases for the second consecutive quarter

The uptick is a result of more people entering the labour market This content is restricted to registered users and subscribers. Get Your Free Account The Mail & Guardian is committed to providing all our readers with the best possible experience. Please register your free account now. Your registration is your first step to becoming an M&G community member. Register Registration enables: – M&G newsletters access – notifications – the best possible experience Already registered? Login here Want to subscribe and get even more benefits? Explore our subscription offers

  • Eyaaz
1 min read
South Africa’s economy expanded by a marginal 0.1% in the first quarter of 2025

South Africa’s economy narrowly avoids a recession

The transport and mining industries were the key contributors to fourth quarter GDP growth

  • Eyaaz
2 min read