1. INTRODUCTION
South Africa is economically identified as a developing country due to insufficient resources that are readily available for the empowerment of its citizens. South Africa is a diverse country and has a history of apartheid where Black people were ill-treated and deprived of economic opportunities. Consequently, this has led to lack of enriching opportunities for Black graduates. It is reported that many Blacks blame apartheid for this irregular economic flaw while on the other hand, many Whites blame the government’s mismanagement tactics.
The ANC political party, which has a majority of Black members, has been running the country since the 1994 democracy; however, after 23 years, they have not resolved unemployment.
Considering the Blacks versus Whites’ assumptions, this project’s controlling purpose is to explore the root cause for the high unemployment rate among Black graduates in South Africa. Thus, with the research question: what is the root cause for the high unemployment rate among Black graduates in South Africa?
Finding the root cause to any problem is vital for the development of any efficient plan as according to 1968 Kaoru Ishikawa’s fishbone diagram. The purpose also calls upon the ANC government to take action and decrease the high unemployment rate among Black graduates, which statistics have proven to be increasing on a quarterly basis.
Black graduates and/or people in this research are Africans and do not include Coloureds, Indians or Chinese.
Project's Exigency
Currently, there has not been anyone who has publicly taken responsibility or accountability for the increasing unemployment rate among Black graduates, hence the blame game and the lack of a properly defined root cause. Fortunately, the introduction of social media has exposed the urgent need for employment opportunities, particularly for Black graduates. Over the recent years, many Black graduates have been posting their unemployment situations in an effort to beg for jobs via social media, also implying that both the private and public sectors do not give Black university graduates job opportunities. Twitter, for example, has been the leading platform on which Black graduates beg for employment. Prior to the social media excessive usage, the masses depended on statistics released by either the government or private research companies; thus, not allowing the public to closely scrutinise the unemployment rate of Black graduates. |
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Project's Kairos
South Africans will be voting for a new government in the year 2019. Consequently, the findings from this project are relevant because they can be informative and influential to the voting process. Regarding the topic, and according to Cohen and Moodley's 2012 research, having a job in South Africa is viewed as an achievement; Black South Africans study to obtain degrees and subsequently which should enable them to find employment. Therefore, if the youth are unsatisfied due to unemployment, the voting results may also be affected. Audience
This project is addressed to the South African governmental bodies because they have the power to ensure that Black graduates are considered within the labour market; they can also change the existing labour rules, challenge placed policies, or introduce new ways that labour processes can be handled. |
Stakeholders
In 1999, Sharp, Finkelstein, and Galal defined Stakeholders as members, either legal entities or humans, who have an interest in the outcome of an organisation, a group or a project*. The stakeholders to this project are Black graduates, however, without the exclusion of all the citizens.
In 1999, Sharp, Finkelstein, and Galal defined Stakeholders as members, either legal entities or humans, who have an interest in the outcome of an organisation, a group or a project*. The stakeholders to this project are Black graduates, however, without the exclusion of all the citizens.
Sources & Methods
This research considered both qualitative and quantitative approaches. All multimedia content, such as pictures, have been downloaded from the internet.
This research considered both qualitative and quantitative approaches. All multimedia content, such as pictures, have been downloaded from the internet.
2. LITERATURE REVIEW
STATS SA, which is the official governmental stats hub releases statistics reports on a quarterly basis. As per figures 1-3, the unemployment rate since 1994 has increased vastly. In 2014, for example, the rate of unemployed Black youth was 40%, and in Quarter 4 of the 2015 year period, the unemployment rate of graduates had contributed to the 49.1% of the unemployed Black youth in South Africa. This also proves that Black people are becoming more alienated from obtaining job opportunities; in only a year, the rate had increased from 40% to 49.1%. Actually, unemployment in South Africa is racially aligned and in confirmation to the STATS report, Hendrik van Broekhuizen reported in 2016 that between the years 2014 and 2015, the rate of unemployed Blacks increased steadily. For example, there were 3 677 561 unemployed Black women between the ages of 15 and 34, who form part of the 49.1%. Fiendishly, almost half of the population in this group who are unemployed in the Republic are reported to be Black women.
Does the above reflect fairness, equality, and the prioritisation of the needs of the Black race in the Republic of South Africa as per The Constitution?
The Constitution of the Republic of South Africa
The Constitution, which governs and oversees the Republic under the promises of providing equality and fairness in terms of economic advancements and improved quality of life seems to be failing the Black race. It must be noted that The Constitution details the Rights to which the citizens are entitled. This legislation is credible, current, and a legal reference for courts, ordinary people and governmental bodies. The Constitution is divided into different sections and from those sections, this research analysed the following:
The Constitution, as the legislation, is presented in such a way that all citizens would be equally protected, provided for, prioritised, and elevated. This document seeks to appeal to ethics, morality and justice. Therefore, also ensuring that its purpose is achieved in the eyes of the Law and of South Africans as also promised in the ANC's 1994 manifesto. |
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The ANC's 1994 Manifesto
The manifesto of the ANC was presented in 1994 to convince people to vote for the ANC and put them in power. Subsequently, with this document, the ANC managed to lobby voters and to achieve their goal, which was to govern the Republic. The content was heavily situated on the apartheid events that had occurred prior 1994; consequently, promising improvements in education, employment, equality, openness, improved quality of life, and many other things which seemed lucrative to those who had been deprived of the treatment that is good and suitable for all human beings. Have all the promises been achieved? |
The role of Twitter in exposing unemployment
According to Fin24.com, the South African youth are active on Twitter; their number is included in the 2.68 million Users as of the year 2015
As a social platform, confirmed by van Zyl in 2015, Twitter provides immediate information, which this research considered. Twitter, also as a source, aims to provide valuable data, although it might be limited in nature. The data regarding Black graduates obtained from Twitter is essential as it indicates a small possible sample of many unemployed Black graduates, despite the fact that they have obtained the minimum job requirement, which is a quality education.
The views of labour parties
In his research project to address the inequalities of the Republic’s labour market, Van Broekhuizen claims that universities at which graduates attend have a major influence in whether or not they obtain employment post-graduation. Additionally, he states that there exists a racial imbalance within the market, which is economically threatening. In his presentation, one can observe that from the years 2000 to 2015, Black graduates have been leading the unemployment field. Thus, the rate of unemployed Black graduates is constantly increasing; it was at approximately 15% in 2015 and rose to above 16% in 2016.
Labour analysts such as du Preez have criticised the ANC party for their failures. The ANC, as the leading party, who have had 23 years to make a difference to the lives of Blacks have failed to live up to their promises.
EFF is one of the vocal and active parties in the Republic, who are concerned about the failures of the ANC in meeting their promises as per the 1994 manifesto regarding the improvement of the economic status for Black people. In delivering their 2014 manifesto, in Section A, Mbuyiseni Ndlozi, who is the national spokesperson of the party, reminded their audience that there are still many irregularities in South Africa, especially, regarding poverty and unemployment.
The views of labour parties
In his research project to address the inequalities of the Republic’s labour market, Van Broekhuizen claims that universities at which graduates attend have a major influence in whether or not they obtain employment post-graduation. Additionally, he states that there exists a racial imbalance within the market, which is economically threatening. In his presentation, one can observe that from the years 2000 to 2015, Black graduates have been leading the unemployment field. Thus, the rate of unemployed Black graduates is constantly increasing; it was at approximately 15% in 2015 and rose to above 16% in 2016.
Labour analysts such as du Preez have criticised the ANC party for their failures. The ANC, as the leading party, who have had 23 years to make a difference to the lives of Blacks have failed to live up to their promises.
EFF is one of the vocal and active parties in the Republic, who are concerned about the failures of the ANC in meeting their promises as per the 1994 manifesto regarding the improvement of the economic status for Black people. In delivering their 2014 manifesto, in Section A, Mbuyiseni Ndlozi, who is the national spokesperson of the party, reminded their audience that there are still many irregularities in South Africa, especially, regarding poverty and unemployment.
3. DISCUSSION
Analysis: identifying the root cause for high unemployment among Black graduates in South Africa
The sources to this research state similar concerns and they are in agreement that there is a crisis of high unemployment among the Black race in South Africa. Although van Bruikhuizen states that the root cause is the quality of education which Black people obtain from the universities of their choice, it is hard to believe his claim because of the following facts:
The sources to this research state similar concerns and they are in agreement that there is a crisis of high unemployment among the Black race in South Africa. Although van Bruikhuizen states that the root cause is the quality of education which Black people obtain from the universities of their choice, it is hard to believe his claim because of the following facts:
Factually, the only reason that Black graduates do not obtain opportunities of employment in the Republic of South Africa is that they are Black. Therefore, the root cause for the high unemployment rate among Black graduates in South Africa is the colour of their skin, that is, being Black.
This raises another discussion: should people’s Blackness be the end of them?
Factually, the only reason that Black graduates do not obtain opportunities of employment in the Republic of South Africa is that they are Black. Therefore, the root cause for the high unemployment rate among Black graduates in South Africa is the colour of their skin, that is, being Black.
This raises another discussion: should people’s Blackness be the end of them?
4. RECOMMENDATIONSThe first recommended action is for the ANC political party to acknowledge that they have failed to uphold their promises regarding employment. Psychology studies have proven that the first step to healing is admitting that there is a problem. Once the government has acknowledged this, it is recommended that they must provide an effective Corporate Monitoring Plan.
The government have an inefficient monitoring plan in place, currently, which requires that organisations submit employment statistics on a quarterly basis. Should a company be employing enough Blacks, the government subsidies them. Therefore, many times, the statistics usually appear compliant, whereas they actually hide the fact that Indians, who are reported by STATS SA to be the majority of employed people in the non-white category are usually included under the 'Black' category since. The monitoring plan should further be accompanied by effective audits, which are strictly under the government’s book; the reason for this is that many companies hire auditors with whom they are closely affiliated and who, in the course of reporting, alter the facts to suit the compliance requirements. If the Black graduate finally obtains employment, is it because of the companies’ will to obtain more money from the government rather than a will to develop a Black child? |
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5. METHODOLOGYIn performing this research, I followed a multi-source protocol because informing others of factual material requires one to substantiate all claims.
Targeted sources for this project were (i) the internet: Online academic journals, news outlets, and including social media platforms. The internet provides immediate and easily accessible information; (ii) the RSA Constitution, ANC’s 1994 Manifesto, and EFF’s 2014 Manifesto because they provide contractual material; and (iii) governmental or political members through interviews since they tend to have relevant information that may not be readily available to the public. The Constitution was used for referencing, aligning current views with those of others, and as a tool in challenging the current labour system. Similarly, the ANC manifesto was used to assess why the ANC government have failed to live up to some of their promises. The EFF’s manifesto was used to show that opposition parties are as equally concerned. Additionally, a questionnaire to Mbuyiseni was sent, in which I asked that he elaborate on his views as stipulated in the Manifesto and those of the EFF party regarding the high unemployment rate among Black graduates. Other articles and journals were used to draw facts, views and approaches that the ANC government could use in bettering the lives of Black graduates |
6. LIMITATIONS
This research does not report on the exact number of unemployed Black graduates who are begging for jobs on Twitter and on the streets. It would, therefore, be valuable for future politically, economically and socially based research to obtain these statistics as they would also encourage the government to take action.
Twitter is not entirely reliable on its own and must be used with caution. Likewise, for this research, Twitter was used as an informational tool although its relevance and importance remain high and unquestionable.
Lastly, Mbuyiseni's response had not been received when this report went to publication.
Twitter is not entirely reliable on its own and must be used with caution. Likewise, for this research, Twitter was used as an informational tool although its relevance and importance remain high and unquestionable.
Lastly, Mbuyiseni's response had not been received when this report went to publication.
7. CONCLUSION
I remember one of the slogans that the ANC party used in 1994; it was powerful and promising, I thought. The slogan was: ‘the people shall govern’. With this slogan in mind, Many South Africans and I assumed that this meant our voices, complaints, struggles, and outcries would be heard. Little did we know that the phrase “the people”, in this regard, referred only to the ANC elite. The phrase “the people” referred only to those whose concern is for themselves and their families, excluding Black graduates.
Analytically, I stand to believe that there are still those few who remain concerned about the state of the Republic. They should pick up where the 1994 manifesto left off and continue to honour those promises by providing jobs and economic freedom to Black graduates.
The government must remind corporations that being Black does not equal to being stupid, incapable, unskilled, lazy, uneducated, undeserving of employment, and undeserving of a better economic lifestyle. I hereby challenge the government to decrease the 16% unemployment rate among Black graduates to 4% by the year 2019, which is the year for the national election. Should the ANC government be confused as to how to proceed, aligning with The Constitution would be one of the recommendable first steps.
It has been proven that we have the best Constitution in the world. Therefore, each governmental party should ensure that the lives of the citizens are represented as per The Constitution.
The Constitution of the Republic of South Africa is clear in that all economic prospects of each individual, including those of a Black graduate in South Africa, are important and should be protected by all.
Analytically, I stand to believe that there are still those few who remain concerned about the state of the Republic. They should pick up where the 1994 manifesto left off and continue to honour those promises by providing jobs and economic freedom to Black graduates.
The government must remind corporations that being Black does not equal to being stupid, incapable, unskilled, lazy, uneducated, undeserving of employment, and undeserving of a better economic lifestyle. I hereby challenge the government to decrease the 16% unemployment rate among Black graduates to 4% by the year 2019, which is the year for the national election. Should the ANC government be confused as to how to proceed, aligning with The Constitution would be one of the recommendable first steps.
It has been proven that we have the best Constitution in the world. Therefore, each governmental party should ensure that the lives of the citizens are represented as per The Constitution.
The Constitution of the Republic of South Africa is clear in that all economic prospects of each individual, including those of a Black graduate in South Africa, are important and should be protected by all.
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2017. Mitta Xinindlu. All Rights Reserved.