African National Congress (ANC) Economic Transformation Sub-Committee chairperson Mmamoloko Kubayi said on Wednesday that youth unemployment was still a big concern despite the latest statistics showing that unemployment has fallen from 34.5% to 33.9%.

On Tuesday, statistician-general Risenga Maluleke released the Quarterly Labour Force Survey for the second quarter of 2022 which showed that the number of people employed in South Africa reached 15.6-million.

Kubayi said while the ANC noted that the rate of unemployment was still unacceptably high, it was evident that tangible progress was being made.

“We will ensure that the ANC-led administration sustains this progress across all sectors of our economy. As outlined in our policy document on Economic Transformation and the Economic Reconstruction and Recovery Plan, we will continue to mobilise society around an infrastructure-led recovery with new investments in energy, water and sanitation, roads and bridges, human settlements, health and education, digital infrastructure and public rtansport,” she said.

The party also promised that there would be an emphasis on localisation, including maximising the use of South African materials and construction companies as well as labour-intensive methods.

It has also stressed that its administration would continue to promote investment in key productive sectors such as agriculture, manufacturing, mining and tourism.

Kubayi said the ANC remained committed to the intensification of efforts to drive an inclusive economic recovery.

“The ANC will continue to seek wide support and achieve a coordinated effort for its economic programme and interventions – including from business, government, labour and community structures,” she said.