South Africa – Former African Union (AU) chairperson and African National Congress (ANC) stalwart Nkosazana Dlamini-Zuma said South Africa's unemployment crisis is driven by a lack of technical skills among educated individuals. He talked about the national unemployment rate exceeding 34% in the first quarter of 2026.
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according to sabc newsDlamini-Zuma spoke about the 8.1 million unemployed citizens, noting that although many individuals are educated, they lack the specific skills needed for modern industries. Dlamini-Zuma focused on practical training and said that without specific technical skills, young people are unlikely to secure jobs or successfully set up their own businesses.
Nkosazana Dlamini-Zuma addresses technical skills
Dlamini-Zuma said South Africans must acquire specialized skills to secure employment. He reflected on a recent trip to India and how skill centers taught youth to repair cellphones, drones and electric motorbikes, and maintain solar panels.
The ANC stalwart said companies quickly hire skilled people while others start businesses. He said that the local economy Must grow to absorb these workers. Following the skills crisis, Dlamini-Zuma addressed immigration amid protests by civic groups demanding deportations.
He said that illegal migration is not desirable, but legal migration is fine. She said there are people Efforts are being made to blame unemployment For those Africans who are here. Dlamini-Zuma remained adamant that even if every undocumented alien were deported, the main issue remained the lack of technical skills and economic development.
Employers of illegal immigrants will be arrested
Similarly, news in brief reported this KwaZulu-Natal Premier Thami Ntuli said the law would not be soft on business owners employing undocumented foreigners. He said they will also be arrested.
Source: News in Brief