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Mail & Guardian

Statistics South Africa

latest news & developments
Long reach: Unemployment is no longer a standalone crisis. It is increasingly tied to weak growth, declining living standards and persistent poverty. Photo: March to March
CONSTRUCTION SECTOR JOB LOSSES

SA recovery remains mainly jobless

The country lost 345 000 jobs in the first quarter of 2026 as unemployment climbed to 32.7%, exposing the gap between economic stabilisation and meaningful employment growth

  • Hasina Kathrada
7 min read
The unemployment rate has climbed again, reaching 32.7%, while youth unemployment has surged to 45.8%.
EDITORIAL

Joblessness remains a bugbear

This is what makes youth unemployment especially dangerous. A country in which nearly half of young work-seekers cannot find employment is not merely experiencing a cyclical…

  • Editorial
2 min read
Human movement: Migration is a major issue, but there has not been enough action to deal with the root causes — such as inequality and instability across the continent. Photo: Delwyn Verasamy
AMERICA

Immigration debate is misdirected, savage 

It is also true that undocumented migration can create space for criminal activity. But we have to be honest: immigrants are not the main drivers of crime in this country. Data…

  • Nontsokolo C Mhlotshana
7 min read
The lived reality for women in South Africa is they get turned away at our police stations. They are told that domestic violence is a family matter. They are sent from one office to another. If they do actually get someone willing to open their case, the case files disappear into delay
ACTION SOCIETY

South Africa’s safety net for women and children has holes

The lived reality for women in South Africa is they get turned away at our police stations. They are told that domestic violence is a family matter. They are sent from one office…

  • Juanita du Preez
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)
BUSINESS

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%

  • Hasina Kathrada
4 min read
The future of the Social Relief of Distress (SRD) grant beyond the March 2027 extension remains uncertain. Archive photo: Chris Gilili
BASIC INCOME SUPPORT

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

  • Marecia Damons
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
DESMOND TUTU FOUNDATION

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’

  • Hasina Kathrada
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)
CAPITEC BANK

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

  • Eddie M Rakabe
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)
BASIC EDUCATION

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.
BUDGET SPEECH

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
CONSTRUCTION

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
ACTIVITY BASED LEARNING

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.

  • Riedwaan Kimmie
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.
BASKET

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

  • MG Reporter
1 min read
On a month-on-month basis
ANNUAL INFLATION

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)
AGRI FOOD BUSINESS

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

  • Earl Joseph
16 min read