‘I apologise if I offended anyone’ – DJ Zinhle after calling SA youth ‘unemployable’

A snippet of DJ Zinhle’s interview, discussing youth unemployment in South Africa, has sparked mixed reactions on social media.

According to Stats SA, at least 45.5% of South African youth or young individuals (aged 15-34 years) are unemployed.

During an interview with Relebohile Mabotja on 702, DJ Zinhle acknowledged the high unemployment rate in South Africa, suggesting that many are “unemployable” due to a lack of necessary skills.

“One thing about the South African youth is not just that they are unemployed, a lot of them are unemployable. They don’t have the required skills,” she said.

The DJ added that she struggled to fill three positions at one of her stores in Mpumalanga.

“It bothers me how long it takes for us to fill positions at Era. Just to find the right person for our stores literally takes longer than it should in a country that has so much unemployment.

“We are opening a store at Highveld in Witbank, we are just looking for three people to work at the store in Witbank… It’s impossible.”

Zinhle also shared that she has been struggling to find a fitting personal assistant for a long time.

“I haven’t had a PA for such a long time because every time I find one, it doesn’t work out…” she said.

Zinhle’s remarks have since sparked mixed reactions on social media platforms, with some people agreeing with her.

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DJ Zinhle issues apology

In response to the backlash, DJ Zinhle issued an apology, clarifying her intentions.

She said she is committed to addressing the underlying issues contributing to youth unemployment.

She added: “How do we upskill our youth so that they are ready for employment? Are we in denial that we are not getting the jobs we want because we do not have the required skills?

“Are we in denial that not all people are getting the education they need to be employable? You guys are speaking from a one-sided view of graduates who have matric, a diploma, etc.”

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