The National Employers Association of South Africa:President Zuma should focus on unemployment

Imogen Vollenhoven
13 February 2013

The National Employers Association of South Africa on Tuesday said President Jacob Zuma should use his State of the Nation Address to tackle the challenges of unemployment and job creation in the country. 

Nersa said South Africa cannot afford to lose jobs and then to introduce social schemes to sustain those that could otherwise have made an economic contribution. 

Nersa’s Sya Van Der Walt said they want it as this will allow Nersa to know the directors from government side are addressing these challenges.

Van Der Walt adds that Nersa saw that despite the marginal decrease in the unemployment rate toward the 4^th quarter of 2012 about 235 000 people also lost their jobs during that same period.

Van Der Walt states that in light of government’s promises of creating 5 million jobs by 2014 that is quite a steep target they have set themselves.

Van Der Walt says it is important as Nersa to see what can do to accelerate the progress.