SONA 2024: Ramaphosa Says Employment Increased From Before Pandemic, but Could Be Better: Professor

• President Cyril Ramaphosa said that more people in the country have been given jobs compared to before the pandemic
• He revealed that compared to 8 million employed people in 1994, the number has more than doubled in 2024
• Stellenbosch University's Professor Zwelinzima Ndevu told Briefly News that more employment could be created by involving Small and Medium Enterprises

Tebogo Mokwena, a Briefly News current affairs journalist in Johannesburg, South Africa, has covered policy changes, the State Of the Nation Address, politician-related news, and Daily Sun and Vutivi Business News elections for over seven years.

President Cyril Ramaphosa revealed that employment has doubled from 1994 to 2024. Despite this, the country still has high unemployment, and various programmes have attempted to tackle this epidemic. Stellenbosch University's Professor Zwelinzima Ndevu, the School of Public Leadership Director, told Briefly News that involving small and medium-sized businesses could improve the figures.

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Unemployment improved in the last 30 years: Ramaphosa

According to the State of the Nation Address Ramaphosa delivered in parliament, eight million people were unemployed at the dawn of democracy. However, that number has doubled to over 16.7 million. Ramaphosa also revealed that through the Presidential Employment Stimulus Package, the government has created over 1.7 million jobs in three years, placing over one million young people as school assistants in 23,000 schools.

SMEs could create employment: Ndevu

Speaking to Briefly News, Professor Ndevu revealed that small, medium and micro enterprises (SMMEs) can potentially provide employment.

"WE need to allow small and medium businesses to continue creating jobs and rope in those in the margins. For example, if you go to the homelands, many factories that were functional were still closed. We could give opportunities to SMMEs to run these factories and go back to manufacturing," he said.

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SONA 2024: Cyril Ramaphosa's speech didn't resonate with people on the ground - Stellenbosch Prof

Things to know about the SONA

• The National Assembly revealed that new laws have been placed to ensure that no political party disturbs Ramaphosa's speech
• this came after the Economic Freedom Fighters' members were suspended for disrupting Ramaphosa in 2023
• National Assembly also said that R6.3 million was spent on the event to ensure it goes smoothly

South Africans depressed by SONA

Netizens on Facebook were morose because of the speech Ramaphosa delivered.

Thoko Mubere said:

"I want to go and live in the South Africa Rmaphosa lives. We live in different countries."

Andrew Hlahla Psst added:

"I think this man thinks he is addressing primary school learners."

Kagiso Justice:

"Long speech is over. People clapped hands hysterically, and unemployment, poverty and loadshedding remain."

Siphesihle Mchunu:

"Where did he get those false stats?"

Thabo Majoro exclaimed:

"It's very hard to believe."

Political parties expected accountability from Rmaphosa

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In a similar article, Briefly News reported that political parties like the Inkatha Freedom Party expected Ramaphosa to be accountable for his failures.

The IFP remarked that Ranmaphosa failed the country as a leader and did not fulfil many of his promises.

South Africans agreed with the IFP and took what Ramaphosa would say with a grain of salt.

Source: Briefly News