/ 26 May 1999

MANDELA ADDRESSES UNEMPLOYMENT

UNEMPLOYMENT will be tackled by the incoming African National Congress, said President Nelson Mandela while campaigning in Sebokeng on Tuesday. Mandela promised that “A major national offensive will be launched against the scourge of unemployment and poverty,” and said “measures to combat unemployment are already in place.” Recognising that unemployment is at a 16-year low, Mandela said that “in the next five years we will speed up our plan.” He said the ANC-led government had already brought trade unions and business together to devise a strategy to combat unemployment, estimated at over 30% of the active population, but, “much more needs to be done.”