Mail & Guardian
Mail & Guardian
Lorato Tshenkeng

Creator

Lorato Tshenkeng

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)
OPINION

Three million jobs is political rhetoric until Ramaphosa’s government fixes what it broke

In his 2026 State of the Nation Address (Sona), President Cyril Ramaphosa said: “If every small and medium-sized business in South Africa could employ one additional person, we…

  • Lorato Tshenkeng
8 min read
Visibility: Last year, a diplomatic clash between President Cyril Ramaphosa and Rwandan President Paul Kagame played out publicly on X. (Instagram/@PaulKagame)
OPINION

The democratic cost of digital silence

The 2026 State of the Nation Address will outline ambitious policy goals. But policies implemented in digital silence will struggle to earn democratic legitimacy

  • Lorato Tshenkeng
8 min read