Letter: A legacy of unemployment

A toxic mix of ANC policy uncertainty, poor political decisions, a fast-growing population, labour legislation inflexibility and the big one – an education system producing an unskilled labour force. These have all led to the staggering unemployment crisis our country is now facing.

The last quarter showed the biggest losses in construction, agriculture and mining.

Agriculture is not only threatened by drought but faces challenges in policy uncertainty and the failure of the ANC land distribution project, leaving productive farms lying fallow and workers unemployed.

Meanwhile, Gupta stooge, mining minister Zwane, in trying to make his mark, has caused dreaded uncertainty in this sector, tabling a bill which he was later forced to withdraw.

The damage has, however, been done to an industry reeling from the drop in international resource prices.

South Africa is set to haemorrhage more jobs in an ANC-induced junk status climate. Meanwhile, the complete neglect of our youth has led to a staggering unemployment rate of 56% within the 15 to 24-year age group.

We are handing the next generation a failed state.

The Democratic Alliance has a five-point plan which can turn our economy in KZN around.

A simple but powerful plan, it advocates policy certainty, skills for job seekers, leadership with integrity and a focused industrial policy aimed at growing industry.

It also ensures that entities including Ithala, Ezemvelo, Trade and Industry KZN and the like are properly performing their mandates of growing our economy in return for the billions of rands we give them.

The DA-run Western Cape has already shown South Africans that the economy can grow despite difficult economic times but that it requires political will and proper industrial policy. Come 2019 the voters will have the opportunity to spread this success to the rest of our country.

ANN MCDONNELL, MPL

DA KZN spokesperson on Economic Development, Tourism and Environmental Affairs.