ANC Youth League president slams Mantashe over unemployment remarks

Mapaballo Borotho

SACP removes Gwede Mantashe from its Central Committee — Image | GCIS

ANC Youth League president Collen Malatjie has criticised Gwede Mantashe over comments suggesting young people rely too heavily on the government for jobs.
The remarks triggered public outrage, with many unemployed graduates sharing their struggles on social media.
Despite a slight drop in unemployment, unions warn that joblessness, especially among black women, remains at crisis levels.

ANC Youth League president Collen Malatjie has joined a growing list of political leaders who have publicly criticised ANC chairperson Gwede Mantashe following his controversial comments on youth unemployment.

Mantashe recently suggested that unemployed young South Africans are overly dependent on the government for jobs instead of actively seeking work.

“I am now over 70, I have never had the government looking for a job for me. I went to Tepa, and I took my contract. I went to the mines and worked as a miner. I went home, bought cattle and sheep, and then went back home.

The difference today is that, because there’s a progressive government, people expect the government to provide them withjobs. They don’t look for jobs, and that must change,” he said during his interview with the public broadcaster.

His remarks sparked widespread backlash, particularly on social media, where many young people accused ANC leaders of being out of touch with reality due to their privileged access to resources and opportunities.

Several young South Africans shared their qualifications and academic records online, detailing years of unsuccessful job hunting. One woman said she was even willing to volunteer at a company, adding that staying at home without work is deeply discouraging.

South Africa continues to grapple with high youth unemployment, with more than 30% of young people currently without jobs.

Although the overall unemployment rate declined slightly to 31.9% in the third quarter of 2025 from 33.2% in the previous quarter, labour federation SAFTU says the figures still point to a collapsing economy that continues to burden the poor.

SAFTU has further revealed that black women are the most affected, facing an expanded unemployment rate of 51.4%, the highest of any demographic group in the country.