Mail & Guardian
Mail & Guardian

Presidential Employment Stimulus Programme

latest news & developments
In the second quarter of 2025, unemployment edged up to 33.2% in the second quarter of 2025 from 32.9% in the previous quarter, while of the 10.1 million people aged 15 to 24, 35.2% were not in employment
BUSINESS

Unemployment rate eases to 31.9% as four industries add jobs

This marks the second consecutive drop in the jobless rate, and the lowest since the third quarter of 2023

  • Aarti Bhana
2 min read
Sports, Arts and Culture Minister Nathi Mthethwa on Monday vowed to ensure that those implicated in the mismanagement of millions of rand meant to benefit artists through the presidential employment stimulus programme (Pesp) were brought to book. (Photo by Ziyaad Douglas/Gallo Images via Getty Images)
ACCOUNTABILITY

Officials implicated in arts council mismanagement will be brought to book — Mthethwa

The National Arts Council vows that every cent from the sector’s Covid-19-relief programme will be disbursed to artists, after auditors uncover maladministration

  • Chris Gilili
3 min read
Dancers performing in front of the National Arts Council in Johannesburg in solidarity with artists who participated in a two-month sit-in at the NAC. (Alet Pretorius/ Gallo Images)
ADVOCATE BUSISIWE MKHWEBANE

Half of the National Arts Council’s PESP funding has gone to a connected 12%

Roadies’ report shows members had first dibs on the National Arts Council’s money

  • Lloyd Gedye
7 min read
The SA Roadies Association’s Freddie Nyathela.
BUSISIWE MKHWEBANE

National Arts Council surplus policy ‘breaks Act’

A funding policy loophole seems to be encouraging feeding at the trough at the NAC

  • Lloyd Gedye
8 min read