More than 12 million people are unemployed in South Africa, with unemployment queues lengthening by an average of 1 000 people every day for the past 17 years. The consequences are catastrophic—for individuals, their families and communities, and the country as a whole.

Government’s favoured solution is public employment programmes that offer temporary short-term work that often pay less than the national minimum wage, provide few skills and offer little hope of progress into the labour market.

Please join us for the online launch of CDE’s new report South Africa’s Unemployment Catastrophe: A call for urgent action. The report shows that growth must be at the centre of a new approach and proposes reforms that will unlock the full potential of markets and business.

Wandile Sihlobo, chief economist, Agricultural Business Chamber of South Africa (Agbiz) and CDE Advisory Board member, will chair the event. Ann Bernstein, CDE’s executive director, will present the report’s key findings and recommendations. The presentation will be followed by Q&A.

Date:      Tuesday 7 October 2025
Time:      10 to 11:30 am
Register: https://cde-org-za.zoom.us/webinar/register/WN_8rXK3oOFT6intA0_qthczg

You need a Zoom account to register, and you can sign up (at no cost) on zoom.us. After registering, you will receive a confirmation email containing information about joining the webinar.

Please contact Brenda Lunda | events@cde.org.za for registration queries. Please liaise with Refiloe Benjamin | media@cde.org.za to coordinate media queries. Contact number 0114825140.

Regards

Ann Bernstein