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We have to face the fact that there is a full-blown jobs crisis in South Africa.

The Quarterly Labour Force Survey released today reveals that the number of people who are unemployed increased by 321 000 from 4.9 million to 5.2 million in the first six months of 2015.

What this means is that 321 000 people, who wanted a job, could not find a job, defined merely as “work for at least one hour”, in the first six months of 2015.

These figures exclude the 2.4 million “discouraged job seekers”, who wanted a job, but have given up looking for a job, in 2015.

That 5.2 million people cannot find a job is staggering, especially if we consider that, for every person who loses their job, about four people depend on them.

The fact that 5.2 million people don’t have a job cannot be explained by external factors alone, and has much to do with government’s disastrous economic policy, which is killing investment, economic growth and jobs in South Africa.

What is worse is that the unemployment rate may increase given that companies in the mining, metals and construction sectors, are planning massive job cuts in 2015.

That is why I have written to the Speaker of the National Assembly, Baleka Mbete, requesting a debate, on a matter of public importance, in terms of National Assembly Rule No. 103, on the jobs crisis, and possible solutions to this crisis, in South Africa, which will hopefully be scheduled during the third term in Parliament.

We cannot be silent when 5.2 million people cannot finds jobs, and live without dignity, independence, a sense of self-worth and freedom in South Africa.

Issued by DA