South Africa’s official national unemployment rate rose to 32.7% in the first quarter of 2026, according to data released by Statistics South Africa via the quarterly labour force survey.

This represented an increase from the 31.4% recorded in the fourth quarter of 2025, with the total number of unemployed persons actively looking for work reaching roughly 8.1 million.

Read more: Premier unveils plan to create 75 000 jobs for unemployed Gauteng residents

To curb unemployment and crime in Gauteng, Premier Panyaza Lesufi has announced that the provincial government will soon launch a recruitment drive with approximately 75 000 employment opportunities, targeting unemployed South Africans, particularly those from disadvantaged communities.

Speaking during a community engagement in Ivory Park on August 4, Lesufi said the jobs would be linked to major infrastructure projects, expanded public employment programmes, and skills development initiatives aimed at tackling unemployment and crime.

“We are going to make the formal announcement in the next two weeks or so.”

He said a significant portion of the opportunities would be created through the expansion of the Gautrain network, which is planned to extend services to Springs, Roodepoort, Soweto, and southern Johannesburg.

“We are also launching expanded public works programmes.

We are looking for people who can build houses, roads, and clinics, repair roads, and people who want skills training in plumbing and other trades. Almost 75 000 identified opportunities will be announced in the coming days.”

Lesufi said the province believes job creation is critical to reducing crime and restoring hope among young people.

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“We have so many young people who are unemployed. We can’t defeat crime if we don’t create opportunities. The Gautrain expansion is not only a transport project; it is an economic opportunity for ordinary people to find work and earn a living.”

The premier said the provincial government’s recruitment campaign, branded S’cela ama CV, will take job opportunities directly into townships.

“Next week, the government I have the honour to lead will be advertising 75 000 new jobs. We call the campaign S’cela ama CV. We will go into townships asking people to submit their CVs.”

According to Lesufi, opportunities will include construction work on the Gautrain expansion, the return of provincial youth employment programmes similar to teacher assistant initiatives, and expanded public works programme positions focused on activities such as grass cutting, road maintenance, and pothole repairs. He stressed that many of the jobs would not require highly specialised qualifications, allowing more unemployed residents to qualify.

“We are not creating complicated jobs because we want everyone to have an opportunity to work.”

The premier also warned job seekers against paying anyone in exchange for employment. “I beg you, South Africans, please do not pay to be hired.”

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