Human Rights Crisis
By Mpho Moloi
Deputy President Paul Mashatile warns that joblessness is a human rights crisis, not just an economic one, calling on all sectors of South African society to act collectively and urgently in addressing the country’s high unemployment and inequality rates. Speaking at the national Human Rights Day commemoration in Kariega, Deputy President Paul Mashatile placed socio-economic issues at the centre of the national human rights agenda.
Held at the Derrick Ferreira Stadium in Kariega, Eastern Cape, the event was themed “Deepening a Culture of Social Justice and Human Rights”. It honoured the memory of the 69 protesters killed in the 1960 Sharpeville Massacre and the 35 victims of the 1985 Uitenhage Massacre. It also served as a powerful platform for the Deputy President to voice the government’s commitment to advancing socio-economic justice.
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Human Rights and Economic Realities: A National Imperative
Deputy President Mashatile began his address by acknowledging the progress made by South Africa since 1994 in expanding economic participation. However, he noted that despite notable economic growth, a persistent unemployment rate of “31.9%” starkly highlights the country’s ongoing struggle with poverty and inequality.
“The pursuit of a just and equitable society is a complex endeavour. While South Africa has experienced notable economic growth through expanding economic participation, the harsh reality of a 31.9% unemployment rate starkly reveals our ongoing struggle against poverty and inequality,” he said.
Mashatile’s central message was clear: unemployment is not merely a statistical or economic concern, but a deeply rooted human rights issue. The Deputy President emphasised the importance of seeing economic exclusion not as a symptom, but as a direct violation of the basic human right to dignity, security, and social inclusion.
“This is not merely an economic issue, it represents a fundamental matter of human rights and fairness, demanding concerted and sustained effort from all of us,” Mashatile added.
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Youth Employment: Investing in the Future
A significant portion of Mashatile’s address focused on youth empowerment as a cornerstone of democracy and development. He highlighted the successes of government programmes aimed at youth employment:
• “Presidential Youth Employment Initiative (PYEI)”: This initiative has already provided over 1.5 million young people with work experience, 70% of whom are women.
• National Skills Fund Disabilities Programme and the Social Employment Fund are also tackling youth unemployment, especially among vulnerable and underrepresented groups.
“Government is working to create more opportunities for all citizens through various policy and legislative frameworks,” Mashatile said.
He pointed out that enabling the youth to lead social transformation is vital to deepening democratic values and ensuring that constitutional rights are lived, not just legislated.
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Leadership Development and Civic Engagement
Mashatile praised the Mandela-Sobukwe Leadership Camp at Nelson Mandela University, supported by the Departments of Higher Education and Training and Health. The programme aims to prepare a new generation of ethical and civic-minded leaders.
“This leadership programme is about more than just discussions—it is about preparing young leaders to champion civic engagement, ethical leadership, and economic justice in their institutions and communities.”
The Deputy President encouraged South Africa’s youth to mirror the spirit of icons like Nelson Mandela and Robert Sobukwe by refusing to accept the status quo and instead work actively to transform society.
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Progress in Basic Services: Measuring the State’s Social Compact
While acknowledging the socioeconomic challenges, Mashatile outlined progress in access to basic services that form part of the country’s constitutional rights:
• Access to water increased to “88.5%” between 2011 and 2022.
• Access to improved sanitation rose to “80.7%” in the same period.
• Affordable housing initiatives such as “First Home Finance” are helping reduce the “2.4 million housing backlog”.
“We are also working to increase access to affordable housing through initiatives such as First Home Finance, which is about the provision of serviced sites for qualifying beneficiaries, small-scale affordable rentals, and other strategic interventions,” Mashatile said.
He reiterated that such progress must be accelerated and broadened to ensure no one is left behind, especially in townships, rural areas, and informal settlements.
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Land Reform and Redress: Reclaiming Dignity
Mashatile devoted part of his speech to the subject of land reform—a cornerstone of the country’s reconciliation and transformation agenda.
“Land dispossession remains one of the most lasting and difficult legacy of the apartheid era,” he said.
The Expropriation Act, signed into law by President Cyril Ramaphosa in January 2025, was presented as a pivotal step in addressing historical injustices. The Act allows for the acquisition of land “in the public interest” and is aimed at accelerating redistribution without undermining investment confidence.
“We are confident that we have chosen the correct path to establishing an equitable society, and we will not deviate from it,” the Deputy President asserted.
He also made it clear that South Africa’s land policies are sovereign and will not be influenced by external pressures.
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Recent Statistics Highlight the Gravity of the Challenge
Recent data released by Stats SA in February 2025 confirmed that unemployment had marginally decreased from 32.1% to 31.9% in the fourth quarter of 2024. However, analysts warned that this decrease was not substantial enough to indicate a long-term trend.
According to the Quarterly Labour Force Survey, job gains were recorded in sectors like community and social services, finance, and manufacturing, while construction and agriculture continued to shed jobs.
Youth unemployment remains especially high, with those aged 15–34 still representing the bulk of the unemployed. This validates Mashatile’s urgency in calling for more targeted interventions.
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A Human Rights-Based Economic Recovery
Mashatile’s message resonates with the constitutional philosophy that economic transformation is intrinsic to human dignity. The Deputy President insisted that joblessness should not be normalised and that social justice must remain at the heart of national policy and development planning.
“The lack of economic and employment opportunities has a direct correlation to poverty, and it exacerbates inequality.”
In this vein, the government continues to expand its social protection system, which includes:
• Social relief grants
• School nutrition programmes
• Expanded Public Works Programme (EPWP)
• Support for informal sector development
These measures are viewed not as charity, but as steps toward realising socio-economic rights enshrined in the Constitution.
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Civil Society and Business: Co-Creators of a Just Future
Mashatile also called on the private sector and civil society to align their efforts with government policies to tackle systemic unemployment and drive inclusive growth. Collaboration, he said, is not optional—it is necessary.
“This is a national duty that requires all of us—government, private sector, labour, communities and civil society—to be united in purpose and decisive in action.”
Programmes such as YES (Youth Employment Service) and public-private partnerships under the Presidential Employment Stimulus have been cited as examples of what’s possible when collaboration occurs.
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Human Rights Day: A Reminder of South Africa’s Unfinished Journey
As the country commemorated Human Rights Day, it did so with both solemnity and purpose. From Sharpeville to Uitenhage, the lives lost in the pursuit of freedom serve as a reminder of the cost of justice. Mashatile reminded attendees that today’s struggle is not only about civil liberties but also about economic freedom.
The government’s message was that real human rights mean access to jobs, education, water, housing, healthcare, and land—not just the absence of political oppression.
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A Capable and Ethical State: The Road Ahead
Mashatile concluded by reiterating the government’s commitment to building a capable, ethical, and developmental state—one that earns public trust through service delivery, transparency, and responsiveness.
He reaffirmed that the state is actively investing in infrastructure, digitisation, and anti-corruption frameworks to create a better life for all.
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