AUTOFORUM

MISA comment - Unemployment rises again despite election promises

Feb 21, 2024 Misa, the Motor Industry Staff Association, Martlé Keyter, Dr Gérard Labuschagne, Tumelo Motaung,

MISA comment - Unemployment rises again despite election promises

Unemployment in South Africa rose again to almost eight million people (32,1%) being jobless as MISA, the Motor Industry Staff Association, predicted when there was an improvement in the unemployment rate in November last year.

More than 700 000 learners passed Matric last year and another half million dropped out of school along the way. Hundreds of thousands of Basic Education Minister Angie Motshekga’s “real Covid-19 babies” in the Class of 2023 joined the 44,3% of unemployed youth in South Africa.

Martlé Keyter, MISA’s Chief Executive Officer: Operations, says the rise in the unemployment rate does not sit well with MISA after listening to the tale of Tintswalo in President Cyril Ramaphosa's State of the Nation Address.

Tintswalo, a girl, represents an allegorical figure of the gains of the ‘new South Africa’. She grew up in a house provided by the state, with water and electricity. She was enrolled in school where she received a nutritious meal as part of a government programme. Her parents got a child support grant to meet her basic needs. After school she was able to study through the National Student Financial Aid Scheme and entered the world of work, according to Ramaphosa’s story. However, the statistics show that the Tintswalo’s in South Africa are few and far between.

“Persistent load shedding, sky-rocketing fuel prices and the high interest rates resulted in 22 000 workers losing their jobs in the last quarter of 2023. “To date each political party, announcing its election manifesto, has promised to create jobs. But 30 years after democracy, South Africa still remains the most unequal country in the world,” says Keyter.

MISA, repeats the Unions plea to the South African Reserve Bank (SARB) Monetary Committee to start cutting interest rates at the next meeting on 27 March 2024. “MISA believes the cutting of interest rates is the only way to stimulate the economy and to prevent further job losses. The retail motor industry is suffering. In December 2023 the new vehicle market registered its fifth consecutive month of year-on-year decline,” says Keyter.

MISA represents more than 63 000 members. MIBCO, the Motor Industry Bargaining Council, declared MISA the majority trade union in the industry.