Led by Deputy Minister Bernice Swart, the initiative hands out a single loaf of bread per family. The MK Party says this move doesn’t just insult the intelligence and dignity of struggling households, it shows how disconnected the ANC has become from the daily hardships ordinary South Africans face.

In a country where poverty and unemployment are through the roof, limiting bread to “one loaf, one family” feels like a cruel joke. It tells people who are already barely surviving that they should be thankful for the absolute minimum. The Deputy Minister’s comment that “one loaf means a lot” only rubs salt in the wound, especially when bread prices have shot up because of the Government of National Unity’s recent fuel levy increase.

The MK Party sees the whole thing as a blatant attempt to play on the desperation of vulnerable communities — particularly black South Africans  just to score political points ahead of the 2026 local government elections.

They’re urging everyone to take a close look at the actions and words of ANC leaders and their GNU partners. While ordinary people deal with a never-ending water crisis, some premiers are still able to enjoy luxury hotel showers. At the same time, youth unemployment keeps climbing, yet ANC National Chairperson Gwede Mantashe has brushed off young people’s struggles by labelling them “lazy”  even as his own son, Buyambo Mantashe, landed a controversial board nomination at the SETAs last year.

Now that the IEC has announced the dates for the 2026 voter registration weekend, the MK Party is asking South Africans a simple but powerful question: Is this really the kind of leadership you want to trust with your future?

They say it’s time to leave behind the ANC’s arrogance, indifference, and vote-grabbing tactics  and to choose a party that actually respects people’s dignity, understands their pain, and is ready to deliver real change.

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The President’s emphasis on expanding public employment programmes, scaling up youth workexperience initiatives, and unlocking opportunities in the digital and green economies reflects an acknowledgement of the severity of youth unemployment and the centrality of young people in rebuilding the economy. The ANCYL particularly welcomes the commitment to remove regulatory barriers that prevent businesses from participating in youth employment schemes, as this responds directly to our long-standing call for aggressive labour-market intervention.

We further note government’s infrastructure investment drive and support it as a catalyst for industrialisation, localisation, and mass job creation. However, we emphasise that infrastructure programmes must include clear youth employment quotas, skills transfer mechanisms, and procurement set-asides for youth-owned enterprises. Without deliberate youth inclusion targets, growth risks reproducing exclusion rather than dismantling it.

The reported improvements in education outcomes, including the historic matric pass rate, demonstrate the potential of young people when provided with resources and support. Yet educational success must be matched by a credible post-school economic absorption strategy. South Africa cannot celebrate academic achievement while graduates remain unemployed. The missing link remains a coordinated national plan that connects education, industrial policy, and labour demand.

The ANCYL also acknowledges interventions aimed at poverty relief and rural development, including support for black producers and agricultural expansion. We reiterate that land access, agricultural financing, and value-chain participation for young people must be accelerated if rural youth unemployment is to be meaningfully reduced.

While government has highlighted progress in rebuilding state capacity and combating corruption, the lived reality of many young South Africans is still defined by poor service delivery, crime, and lack of economic opportunity. Implementation, not announcements, will determine whether the commitments made today translate into tangible change.

The ANCYL therefore calls for:

• Clear timelines and budgets attached to all youth employment commitments;

• Binding youth inclusion targets in infrastructure and industrial programmes;

• Expansion of support for youth entrepreneurship and cooperatives;

• A coordinated national youth economic participation strategy.

South Africa’s youth do not require sympathy; they require decisive action, structural transformation, and access to opportunities. The SONA has outlined important commitments. The task ahead is implementation at scale and with urgency.

The ANCYL remains resolute in its position that young people must not be spectators in the economy of their country, but active participants and leaders in its transformation.

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The incident occurred early Wednesday morning before the event officially began. Witnesses said a sudden surge of eager applicants rushing through the gates overwhelmed security officers, leading to chaos and a deadly crowd crush.

Thousands of young Ghanaians had gathered at the stadium, hoping to secure limited positions in the Ghana Armed Forces. The country’s youth unemployment rate, estimated at around 13%, has intensified the rush for stable government jobs like those in the military.

Authorities said the recruitment deadline had been extended by a week to allow more people to apply after difficulties with online registration. The extension, however, led to an unexpectedly large turnout.

Several people sustained injuries and are receiving treatment at the 37 Military Hospital in Accra. Security forces have since restored order at the scene, and the recruitment exercise is continuing under tighter supervision.

The Ghana Armed Forces expressed condolences to the victims’ families and assured the public that a full investigation will be conducted to determine the causes of the incident and prevent a recurrence.

The tragedy has reignited discussions about unemployment and crowd management in Ghana, as thousands of young people continue to seek limited job opportunities in a challenging economy.

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Entrepreneurship has been a steady aspect of promoting and motivating citizens in the country to seek opportunities that could allow them to start their own businesses with 31% of population in the country comprising of the youth they play a significant role in uplifting the economy, a feat that some of the Durban University of Technology (DUT) students have taken up whilst being full time students. 

Samkelisiwe Mngadi shares her experience in being a part time vendor, baking and selling cakes, stating that capital was the biggest challenge going into entrepreneurship.

“I cannot secure government funds as they require the owner of the business to be fully on hand with the business.”

Asanda Vilakazi, second year, Public Relations student started her own construction company, Matjili Cleaners Pty/Ltd in 2021 in her community, Sweet Waters Area in Pietermaritzburg.

“The main aim of starting a business was to create more job opportunities and make something of myself, so if ever life does not go as planned, I have something solid to fall back on.”

Vilakazi also spoke on the challenges of being a young black female entrepreneur in an industry most suited to men, highlighting that because of her age, people did not take her ideas or knowledge on the industry seriously.

“At first financially I wasn’t that stable much to get the machines I needed for my construction company but as time went by, I was able to sacrifice for the greatness that I have today.”

With her company she was granted a tender to fix the road in her community in 2023.

According to Statistics South Africa(StatsSA), the percentage of the youth actively seeking for employment with no luck went from 36,8% (2014) to 45,5% (2024) quickly putting into perspective the level in which the economy is progressing in, motivating people to look locally and see what can be done.

Lusanda Ndlovu currently studying Beng Tech in Mechanical Engineering at the Steve Biko campus chose to venture in Landscaping from taking care of his family’s lawn and explained that it grew into a passion from the exposure to the various equipment that could do a better job.

“With this business I target to employ many Horticulture students since in this country we are facing a high unemployment rate, and their speciality is in landscaping; we aim to bring in other job opportunities.”

With a staff of one permanent and four part time employees they have worked on improving houses in Amanzimtoti, Adams Mission.

“Our location is situated in a developing area which is good for our business because we are aiming to provide beautiful landscapes in people’s homes,” adds Ndlovu.

With initiatives like Envision2030 and Entrepreneurial Edge at DUT, there is hope that students will be equipped and taught the skills they need to migrate to entrepreneurship.

“Additionally, I think our youth is not well educated about entrepreneurship if we can spread the gospel of entrepreneurship starting with the kids in primary school because they are the future youth, youth development would be much easier and more optimal,” said Mnagdi.

“It is very devastating to see young people like me living just for the purpose of breathing but not making something of themselves.” – Asanda Vilakazi

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