South Africa’s unemployment rate has climbed to 32.9% in the first quarter of this year, according to the national statistics body.
This marks a 0.8% increase from the previous quarter of 2023.
The country is grappling with one of the highest unemployment rates globally, with one in two young South Africans and 60% of the population living below the poverty line.
The rise in unemployment, along with issues of corruption and economic inequalities, are key topics in the upcoming elections.
The ruling African National Congress (ANC), in power since the end of apartheid in 1994, faces criticism over its economic policies. Some polls suggest that the ANC might receive less than 50% of the vote for the first time.