S.Africa: Black Rule is causing Economic Business & Crime Problems – Transvaal Agricultural Union: Unemployment and crime: Two sides of the same coin

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TLU SA has noted with great concern the latest Statistics SA Quarterly Labour Force Survey for the second quarter of 2024. This report once again highlights the disturbing levels of unemployment in our country, which directly contribute to the increase in crime. We firmly believe that unemployment and crime are inseparably linked.

Success in any economy is driven by a healthy and thriving private sector. This means that service companies, factories, and agricultural institutions must be profitable to pay taxes and contribute to the national economy. The state’s role is to create a safe environment with reliable infrastructure, constant power supply, and good transport facilities. When these conditions are met, it becomes attractive for businesses to invest and thrive.

The current situation is far from this ideal.

The ANC’s transformation policy, combined with cadre deployment and BEE, has led to appointments based on political connections and race rather than expertise. This has undermined investor confidence, and many businesses have withdrawn their investments or moved to safer havens. Entrepreneurs are leaving the country in search of better opportunities, leading to slow economic growth and a decline in job opportunities.

This negative trend is a direct result of the ANC’s policy.

How do we build a future in such circumstances? The president frequently announces that jobs will be created, but the real focus should be on economic growth. To achieve this, the government must stop interfering with labour regulations and property rights that create uncertainty. The private sector must be allowed to operate in a trustworthy environment where investments are protected and not expropriated without compensation.

We hope that the new RNE will make a positive difference, although we are still burdened by the legacy of the ANC’s policy. It will take time before new policies bring about noticeable change.

The link between unemployment and crime is like a time bomb. Social grants alone cannot sustain unemployed people permanently. This situation is the result of the government’s flawed policy.

The past 30 years of policy have disadvantaged the country’s people and destroyed economic opportunities. Unemployment and crime are rooted in the ANC’s policy environment.

There must be an urgent review of labour legislation and its application, including the minimum wage. By abolishing the minimum wage, market forces can regulate the labour market and employ more people. Trade unions currently represent only those who have jobs – there is no one standing up for the unemployed.

TLU SA urges policy changes that can facilitate real economic growth. Only through this approach can we reduce unemployment and tackle the crime crisis. We remain committed to our mission to strengthen agriculture and the broader economy for the benefit of all our people.

SOURCE: TAU TLU