Note to Broadcasters: Please find attached soundbite in English by Freddy Sonakile
The DA is deeply alarmed by the latest Quarterly Labour Force Survey (QLFS) for Q4 of 2024, which confirms what residents of North West have been experiencing firsthand—a province in economic freefall under an incapable ANC provincial government.
Unemployment has skyrocketed, with the official rate increasing by 4.5% (20,000 jobs lost) from the 3rd quarter to the 4th quarter, making North West the worst-performing province in the country. Year-on-year, unemployment has surged by 2.3%, while the expanded unemployment rate climbed by 1.3%—a clear indicator that economic opportunities are shrinking under the current administration.
Despite a population growth of 1.3% year-on-year, employment ratios continue to plummet, with the Employed-to-Population Ratio dropping by 0.8% in the last quarter alone. This means fewer people are working to sustain their families, while poverty and desperation escalate.
The ANC’s failure to create jobs and stimulate growth has left North West in a deepening crisis. The DA has consistently advocated for policies that attract investment, improve infrastructure, and create an enabling environment for small businesses to thrive—yet these proposals are ignored by a provincial government more focused on self-enrichment than service delivery.
With Premier Lazarus Mokgosi set to deliver the State of the Province Address (SOPA) on 27 February, we urge him to use this opportunity to present real, actionable solutions to the unemployment crisis. The people of North West cannot afford another speech filled with empty promises and excuses.
We demand urgent intervention to address this crisis. The DA will continue pushing for accountable governance, a revitalised job market, and real economic opportunities for the people of North West.
Change is not only necessary; it is urgent. The people of North West deserve a government that prioritises job creation, economic growth, and a future that offers hope instead of despair.