DA launches petition to tackle North West’s Unemployment Crisis

Issued by Freddy Sonakile – DA Provincial Chairperson in the North West
13 Jun 2025 in Press Statements

Note to Broadcasters: Please find attached soundbites in English by Freddy Sonakile

The Democratic Alliance (DA) has today officially launched an online and manual petition to confront the worsening unemployment crisis in the North West province. See link here (https://petitions.da.org.za/p/north[1]west-needs-jobs).

The latest Quarterly Labour Force Survey revealed that the province lost 57,000 jobs in the last quarter alone, pushing the expanded unemployment rate to an alarming 56%, the highest in the country, and above the national average. For three out of the last four quarters, the North West has consistently shed jobs, yet the provincial government continues to ignore this economic disaster.

The DA refuses to stand by while thousands lose their livelihoods. Earlier this year, the party tabled a motion in the North West Provincial Legislature demanding that Premier Lazarus Mokgosi and his Executive Council urgently present a plan to protect existing jobs, stimulate investment, and create new employment opportunities. Instead of taking action, ANC MPLs chose to defend the failing status quo—offering no solutions and no hope for the people of this province.

The DA’s campaign against unemployment has now entered its next phase: this province-wide petition. Once we reach more than 10,000 signatures, the DA will announce the third step, a public march to deliver residents’ demands directly to the Office of the Premier.

Our proposed five-point plan includes:

  1. A formal declaration of unemployment in the North West as a provincial disaster, unlocking resources and emergency interventions.
  2. The establishment of a Premier-led Youth Employment War Room.
  3. A Provincial Jobs Turnaround Plan to support businesses and industries that create sustainable jobs.
  4. An Infrastructure-First Recovery Strategy to revive public infrastructure and unlock economic growth.
  5. Immediate action to cut red tape and attract private investment.

The North West is not a poor province, it is simply poorly governed. The DA will not be remembered as those who folded their arms in the face of this crisis. We will be remembered as those who fought back.