​Today, Statics South Africa released the Quarterly Labour Force Survey for the 3rd Quarter of 2018.

According to the survey, the national expanded unemployment rate grew to 37, 3%. This means, 9, 785 million South Africans are without employment countrywide.

The survey confirms the increasingly challenging economic environment faced by South Africans and is a reminder of the work which needs to be done in order to turn the economy around and move the country out of recession.

The City of Johannesburg, is not immune to the effects of the prevailing economic conditions. The survey found that over the last quarter, unemployment within the City increased by 0, 03%.

Despite this increase, net job growth over the past three quarters has resulted in 89 000 new jobs for the City.

The latest jobs statistics for the City show that, despite on-going efforts to stimulate growth within the prevailing circumstances, our efforts need to be re-doubled in order to break free of the current national economic slump.

Since coming into office, our multi-party government has worked to introduce a number of new initiatives, intended to stimulate Joburg’s economy and, in the process, kick-start a period of growth that will lead to sustained growth in jobs.

The approach has been premised on several pillars, including:

·       Focussing on the basic fundamentals of government, which in turn, will produce an environment which fosters economic growth. This includes the renewal of infrastructure, enforcing the rule of law and moving towards a professional civil service;

·       renewing key infrastructure which helps drive growth;

·       intensifying efforts to fight crime by recruiting 1500 additional new officers who, once having completed their training, can help keep our residents, businesses and communities safe;

·       Making corruption public enemy number one by establishing the Group Forensics and Investigation Services Unit, which has uncovered just over R24 billion in cases;

·       Rolling out of Opportunity Centres which can assist entrepreneurs with crucial skills and support for growing their businesses so that they in turn can create job opportunities; and

·       Turning the inner city into a construction, thereby creating jobs through upcoming development activities. In the future, work is set to begin on the development of 84 city properties which will be turned into mixed-use developments.

We will also continue working with the private sector to not only build strong public private partnerships but to also attract investments within the City.

Recently, Divercity Urban Property Fund decided to invest R2 billion within the inner city, the largest single investment in the inner city in many years. This is the kind of environment we are dedicated to fostering so as to create jobs for our people.

In the face of these challenging economic conditions, there is much work which still lies ahead.

However, the multi-party coalition government remains resolute in ensuring that more and more of our residents have access to opportunities and the dignity which comes with work.

Cllr Herman Mashaba

Executive Mayor

City of Joburg

Media enquiries:

Luyanda Mfeka

Director: Mayoral Communications

Office of the Executive Mayor

Cell: 076 171 5978

Email: luyandam@joburg.org