South Africa needs to increase state support in education as well as private sector involvement to avoid devastating job losses, according to Eskom chairperson Jabu Mabuza.
“Our overriding objective should be to maximize the impact of policy interventions through labour-absorbing growth,” Mabuza, who is also chairperson of Business Leadership South Africa, which represents big corporates, wrote in an opinion piece in the Johannesburg-based Financial Mail. “Everyone must play a part in overcoming our huge unemployment time bomb.”
Unemployment in Africa’s most-industrialised nation climbed to a near-15 year high of 27.6% in the first quarter. Eskom is seen as one of the country’s biggest economic risks, with almost $35-billion in debt dragging on the State company’s ability to operate. The World Bank estimates it has 66% too many employees.
The government also needs to focus on ensuring a clear fiscal strategy to help keep its credit rating intact, Mabuza said.