Attorney Michael de Broglio on: South Africa, Law, Politics, Attorneys, Sport, Photography, Technology, Gadgets, Media, Crime, Road Accidents Fund,
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Most people are familiar with the fact that we have a very high unemployment rate in South Africa, but what that rate is, is somewhat controversial. The official unemployment rate is 25.5%. The unofficial rate is 37%. The difference between the two, and this is not unique to South Africa, is that government offices around the world don’t generally include in their unemployment statistics all of those who have given up looking for a job or are essentially trapped at home and cannot afford transport fees to even go into town and to try and apply for a job.
By excluding those people, every country has a lower unemployment rate than it would otherwise have and so I think in America that unofficial rate is approximately 12% whereas the official rate is little bit over 7% at the moment. You only have to look at the figures above to see the comparison with South Africa and realise the terrible problem that we face. We also need to give everybody basic services and assistance in life and it is the very small group of taxpayers who have to do so.
It is really hard, looking ahead to see anything other than tax hikes eventually, even if we managed to dodge that bullet in a few budget speeches in recent years. There is just so much that still needs to be done in South Africa - from education to infrastructure to our healthcare system - and so few people who have jobs in the first place, and then even a smaller category who are actually contributing to tax, because they might be earning a minimum salary or a meaningful amount of tax, because they might be earning a lower than average salary. How one resolves that is another question – whether it is tourism entrepreneurship, liberalising labour laws to make it easier for people to start a business, and give up if it is not succeeding. The fact remains that we have a huge problem and a huge number of people who are not getting anything out of the new South Africa and who are terribly unhappy about their lot in life.
Posted by Michael de Broglio on Wednesday 31-Jul-13
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Comments
emiel123 said:
on Saturday 19-Oct-13 04:49 PM
Good day
For the past couple of months I really became aware of the unemployment situation amongst the youth the "future" of our country
I'm a 20 year old white male I have been trying to find work for 10 months.
I finished matric in a technical highschool with 2 distinctions one in maths and one in mechanics.
Afterwards I went to study as I always wanted to, I studied draughting at one of the only collages in SA to do the course. I completed my year and a half at the collage and obtained my international diploma in autocad I also completed in my spare time 5 more diplomas so I have 6. I have national and international diplomas in autodesk autocad, autodesk inventor pro and autodesk revit pro. And I am busy doing a CAPM to become a project manager.
The above programs are the biggest of their kind in the world.
I applied to all the vacancies for jobs I could find on the internet and so forth. I have not received a single reply. I almost forgot to mention people with my skill set are wanted around the world because no one really knows about it. We were 30 students in the entire gauteng who studied it and most of the don't have half of what I do. .
Yesterday I conducted a experiment. I went on the internet and looked for jobs in other countries I picked two at random, one company in england and one in china I sent my cv and a portfolio with almost 3000 drawings that I have done from when I started with collage till now.
This morning I woke up and both companies replied that they are willing to hire me immediately with housing and everything I need for 3 months will be there when I arrive.
So please tell me if you can, how can that be possible in a day but in my own country I have been unemployed for almost a year.
My situation has forced me to accept the offer to go to england not that I want to go but I have to no one can wait around for things to happen because I am convinced it is going to take years before we can even think about getting things fixed.
I don't blame anyone for what's happening in SA but people have made mistakes and we the countries so called future have nothing left.
I use myself as an example to show anyone even someone who studied and did more that was expected from me, have trouble seeing that "future" in myself.
Thank you for reading.
Ivin Viljoen said:
on Friday 13-Sep-13 01:29 PM
These days your job is your life and without it there is lots of frustration. I was retrenched in 2008 and because i was not one to work for a boss i started my own home business and man... it was the wisest decision i have ever made. This is not to say that i am top in my industry but the desire i had got me far. This taught me that instead of looking for a job one should perhaps think about opening their thing and creating work for others.
Thabitha said:
on Wednesday 21-Aug-13 08:49 AM
I am thankful that I have a job and it breakes my heart to see those people who are seriously look for job without luck
Sinead said:
on Monday 05-Aug-13 01:42 PM
It's really sad to see that at almost every robot, there is someone standing there because of unemployment.
Saving is something everyone needs to do. Don't live for today only... 'Tomorrow's another day'
Corné said:
on Thursday 01-Aug-13 04:55 PM
I cannot explain how thankful I am for my job, every day, all day, doesnt matter what happens or how difficult the day might be, I am always deeply thankful for my job.
Caron said:
on Thursday 01-Aug-13 11:09 AM
The 24hrs I was unemployed following retrenchment was the worst 24hrs of my life... any longer and I'm not sure I'd be here today.
I have no sympathy for: (1) The unemployed who have children themselves which they cannot support and expect the government to support hem and that a job will be available for them one day, (2) Those who have children they cannot afford to education in order to better secure their future and (3) the unemployed whi blame everything and everyone else when they are the ones to blame for brushing aside the opportunities they've had in their lives.
thembi said:
on Thursday 01-Aug-13 08:51 AM
It is very sad to see people on the side of the road begging for money and that is why l am vey thankful for the job l have.
Bianca said:
on Thursday 01-Aug-13 08:22 AM
I am extremely thankful for my job and no matter how stressful your job may be, be sure to always give thanks for what you have and think of how differently life would be if you did not have a job. It is extremely sad to see that so many people are unemployed, I lend a helping hand where I can but hopefully there will be some drastic change to ease the poverity in our country as a result of unemployment.
moenisha said:
on Wednesday 31-Jul-13 01:04 PM
I tried to give a little boy on the side of the road some money one day feeling very sorry for him, the driver stopped me who was an african and told me it's because of people like us that they are on the street they do have homes. I also heard one day a guy said why must he go and work when he makes more money on the street.There are genuine one out there, so sad that people have to suffer like that.
Cherise said:
on Wednesday 31-Jul-13 12:44 PM
It really is not a nice sight to see poeple who are unemployed on the side of the street looking for work.
It could realy happen to anyone , our country needs to change and incorporate more jobs for people. as each year there is more and more people in the job market.
Cherise said:
on Wednesday 31-Jul-13 12:44 PM
It really is not a nice sight to see poeple who are unemployed on the side of the street looking for work.
It could realy happen to anyone , our country needs to change and incorporate more jobs for people. as each year there is more and more people in the job market.
Sorea said:
on Wednesday 31-Jul-13 12:37 PM
With a population of well over 50 million the difference between the official rate of 25.5% and 37% is a disturbing amount of people to just conveniently omit from the unemployment statistics.
I am very grateful for my job and the fact that it gives me freedoms and opportunities that most of the 37% will never experience.
Safia said:
on Wednesday 31-Jul-13 12:24 PM
It is terrifying to be jobless especially if you have chidren to look after. While i could survive on water from foutains and eat bananas only( cheaper and healthier to bread) i would be heartbroken to have my children living hungry sad life. Or to become an old pensioner with no pension and no savings, when everybody kicks you around like an old dog .Build your life one brick at a time and save by all means .
marilie said:
on Wednesday 31-Jul-13 11:40 AM
South-African unemployment rate is to high . New developing entrepreneurs struggle to make a living .Something needs to be done .The governmant must look into this problem to stop the rate increasing
Michael said:
on Wednesday 31-Jul-13 11:33 AM
Very true, people with jobs make up stories why they cant save, why they need every cent - and it can happen to anyone. You should save at least 2 month's full salary in your account at any given time apart from retirement savings.
Juliet said:
on Wednesday 31-Jul-13 11:26 AM
I am grateful every day that I have a job and that I am independent. I understand how difficult it is to get a job and how desperate people are, even clients who have lost employment begging you to help them, these are people who were once stable and independent. It can happen to anyone. We need to save for a rainy day.
Simone said:
on Wednesday 31-Jul-13 11:22 AM
It does break my heart seeing people out there who have been unemployed for a long time. We should thank our stars that we are lucky enough to be able to come to work every day and earn a salary.
Yolandi P said:
on Wednesday 31-Jul-13 11:15 AM
I find it really sad when I see how poor some of these people are. I try to do as much as possible for them but their mindset has become so dark and hopeless that they see no reason why thye should even try to better their lives. You cant help those who dont want to help themselves. Very sad
david said:
on Wednesday 31-Jul-13 11:14 AM
i'm happy I have a job. I was out of work, once before in the distant past, and aside from being broke, the feeling of helplessness and uselessness is the worst thing in the world.
Johannesburg based attorney specializing in personal injury matters including Road Accident Fund claims and medical negligence matters. My interests include golf, reading and the internet and the way it is constantly developing. I have a passion for life and a desire for less stress!
