ActionSA writes to President Ramaphosa demanding dismissal of employment minister
The latest Quarterly Labour Force Survey (QLFS), Q1:2025, paints a dire picture: The official unemployment rate rose to 32.9%, up from 31.9% the previous quarter.
A staggering 8.2 million South Africans are now unemployed, with an additional 3.5 million discouraged work-seekers.
291 000 jobs were lost in the first quarter alone – the first such Q1 contraction since 2021. This equates to more than 24,000 jobs lost each week, and almost 5 000 each workday.
The proportion of young South Africans aged 15–34 who are not in employment, education, or training (NEET) rose to 45.1% in Q1:2025 — a devastating indicator that nearly half of our youth have been left without opportunity, support or a path to a better future.
There is a glaring absence of any meaningful strategy, either in planning or implementation and despite full awareness of South Africa's worsening unemployment crisis, Minister Meth has failed to present a coherent plan to stem job losses, support the informal economy or tackle the systemic barriers that keep young people out of the workforce.
In November 2024, ActionSA asked Minister Meth whether she would resign should the country's distressing unemployment figures continue to rise. Her response was blunt and unapologetic: 'Unfortunately, I won't resign.' This laid bare a disturbing indifference to the suffering of millions of South Africans. It is an attitude that reflects the posture of an uncaring government that has grown comfortable with failure while ordinary citizens pay the price.
Nearly a year into her tenure, Minister Meth has not demonstrated the urgency, capacity or leadership required to respond to this economic and social emergency. South Africa's working-age population cannot afford further stagnation under ineffective stewardship.
The absence of meaningful performance management for GNU Ministers has created a culture where failure carries zero consequence. In any functional democracy, such dismal figures amid worsening socio-economic conditions would compel a Minister to take responsibility and step down. Sadly, this standard of accountability is sorely lacking in South Africa and glaringly absent in the Ramaphosa-led administrations.
ActionSA believes that something has to give. Sitting on our hands while millions suffer is simply not an option. We are committed to using every available lever to ensure that South Africa's unemployment crisis is addressed with the urgency it demands.
Alan Beesley MP, ActionSA Member of Parliament
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This time he posted on X that they had spent the day meeting with 'senior members of the House of Representatives' committee on foreign affairs'. Freedom Front Plus A political party, with roots stretching back to around 1994, when South Africa became a democracy. Corné Mulder heads it. Its website says: 'The Freedom Front Plus is committed to group rights, against affirmative action and towards a better SA for all.' Another section of its website focuses on Afrikaners. #AfrikanerDelegationWashingonDC Today was a good day with a series of excellent meetings at US Congress @Netwerk24 @IOL — Corné_Mulder (@MulderCorn) June 25, 2025 It explains: 'The Freedom Front Plus is irrevocably committed to the realisation of communities', in particular the Afrikaner's, internationally recognised right to self-determination, territorial or otherwise; the maintenance, protection and promotion of their rights and interests; as well as the promotion of the right of self-determination of any other community, bound by a common language and cultural heritage in South Africa.' Together with the head of Saai and of Neasa, Mulder was in the US in June 2025. National Employers' Association of South Africa (Neasa) An employers' association established in 1996 under the guidance of Gerhard Papenfus, who still heads it. Its website says: 'As a pioneering employers' association and a major player in collective bargaining, Neasa is a staunch defender of employers' rights, actively engaging in forums, including Parliament and the media.' A simpler description on its X account describes at as 'the leading advocate of employers' interests in #SouthAfrica, supporting a prosperous economy for all'. Neasa's vast management team appears to consist of mostly white individuals. White House states pre-conditions for US/SA relationship. — NEASA (@NeasaNews) June 26, 2025 Neasa, AfriForum and Saai see eye-to-eye, especially when it comes to issues like rural safety. In 2023 it was announced they were among various groups who 'pledged to work more closely together to form a united front against rural crime'. Papenfus visited the US in June 2025, along with the heads of Saai and the Freedom Front Plus. Southern African Agri Initiative (Saai) A network and organisation focused on agriculture interests headed by Theo de Jager. Its website says it 'was established by farmers for farmers and that is committed to protecting and promoting the rights, values, ideals and needs of the family farmers in the primary production sector… 'A family farmer is not old or young, big or small, white or black, poor or rich. A family farmer is a member or members of a family (including those employed by this family) who own or manage an agricultural business.' Met die besoek aan die USA Department of State, amptenare wat werk op SA, SADC en Afrika, is ons formele program in Washington afgehandel. — Theo de Jager (@TheoDJager) June 27, 2025 Last year Saai and AfriForum announced that they wanted the international police organisation Interpol to crack down on stock theft between South Africa and Lesotha. De Jager was part of the US visit with the heads of Neasa and the Freedom Front Plus in June 2025. Solidarity A trade union with roots apparently dating back to 1902 and headed by Dirk Hermann. Its website says: 'Solidarity's goal is that everyone who wants to work, must be able to work well and reach their full potential.' (The page on which its 'goal' is detailed happens to show only people who appear to be white.) Another part of the site says: 'Solidarity members, through their monthly payment of membership fees, can enjoy a range of benefits. Solidarity's offer is subject to terms and conditions.' Vandag is nog 'n groot dag. Ons ontmoet lede van die senaat en huis van verteenwoordigers. Dit was na gister se groot sukses by die Withuis. Ons praat weer oor die Washington-memorandum. Erkenning en hulp aan Afrikaners en druk op die regering vir beleidsverandering. Gee gerus… — Dirk Hermann (@SolidariDirk) February 26, 2025 It has various campaigns one can get involved in, like taking on the ANC and racial laws. Solidarity says this is because: 'We want to ensure that Afrikaners can live and work freely, safely and prosperously in South Africa.' Earlier this year, Solidarity representatives visited the White House with AfriForum and Solidarity Movement counterparts. Solidarity Movement Flip Buys chairs this umbrella body, consisting of various organisations, and which has origins dating back to 1998. It includes Solidarity, AfriForum, which is described as its civil rights wing, the Federasie van Afrikaanse Kultuurvereniginge, and online news publication Maroela Media. Its two 'independent partners,' according to its website, are Saai and Pretoria FM. 𝗦𝗼𝗹𝗶𝗱𝗮𝗿𝗶𝘁𝗲𝗶𝘁 𝗕𝗲𝘄𝗲𝗴𝗶𝗻𝗴-𝗮𝗳𝘃𝗮𝗮𝗿𝗱𝗶𝗴𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝘃𝗲𝗿𝗴𝗮𝗱𝗲𝗿 𝗶𝗻 𝗪𝗶𝘁𝗵𝘂𝗶𝘀 𝗺𝗲𝘁 𝗧𝗿𝘂𝗺𝗽-𝗮𝗱𝗺𝗶𝗻𝗶𝘀𝘁𝗿𝗮𝘀𝗶𝗲 Lees hier: — Solidariteit Beweging / Solidarity Movement (@SBeweging) February 25, 2025 Its website says: 'The Solidarity Movement is a family of community organisations with more than 500 000 members who, together with their families, represent around two million people. 'It is an Afrikaans, Afrikaner and South African network of self-help organisations. Our foundation is Christian-Democratic, and we strive for mutual recognition of, and respect between race groups. We reject leftist and rightist extremism.' Solidarity Movement representatives visited the US earlier this year. Daily Maverick reported in February that the Solidarity Movement had also stated that 'during the past few years, the movement has been in contact with various US politicians to ensure that South Africa's relations with the US do not run aground'. At that stage, the Solidarity Movement also planned to spread its stance on South Africa in Europe – representatives had planned to visit places including Germany, Italy, France and the Netherlands. DM
