EASTERN CAPE — As the Eastern Cape unemployment crisis deepens, local communities and youth advocates are looking to the 2026 Medium-Term Budget Policy Statement for urgent economic relief. With joblessness reaching critical levels across the province, stakeholders are urging the government to prioritize job creation and structural support in the upcoming fiscal address.
Residents in areas such as Duncan Village are echoing a nationwide sentiment, hoping that the Finance Minister’s mid-term policy speech will bring much-needed relief and spur local investment. For the region’s youth, the alarming levels of joblessness require immediate and serious intervention.
Zikhona Matyila, a spokesperson for the South African Youth Council, outlined the urgent expectations the council has for the Minister’s address. According to Matyila, the government must focus on three critical areas to reverse the current economic stagnation.
Firstly, the council is demanding robust support for young entrepreneurs. While many young people possess an entrepreneurial spirit, they lack the necessary government backing. Matyila emphasized that the government must move beyond basic training and provide actual funding to help youth start businesses and successfully enter competitive markets.
Secondly, the delivery of basic services remains a foundational requirement for job creation. The council highlighted that ensuring reliable access to water, electricity, and well-maintained roads is essential. When these basic services are functional, factories remain open, and new employment opportunities can flourish.
Thirdly, Matyila stressed the need to align the skills taught at local colleges with the specific demands of the Eastern Cape economy. By synchronizing educational outputs with the province’s core markets—specifically the automotive, agriculture, and ocean economies—graduates will be better positioned to absorb into the local workforce.
When asked about the council’s active role in holding the government accountable, Matyila explained that they are on the ground assisting young people in applying for existing state incentives. While acknowledging that the government is making efforts, he noted that it is “not necessarily enough.” The council is also aggressively advocating for youth inclusion in high-level fiscal discussions, arguing that young people must be present at the decision-making table when budgets that directly affect their futures are being drafted.
The urgency of these demands is underscored by dire regional statistics. According to the council’s research, the overall unemployment rate in the Eastern Cape currently sits at a staggering 47.5%. When narrowed down to the youth demographic, the joblessness rate spikes to an emergency level of 54%.
As the 2026 Medium-Term Budget Policy Statement is delivered, the youth of the Eastern Cape are watching closely. They are calling on Finance Minister Godongwana to stamp a definitive mark on this crisis, transforming fiscal policy into tangible, life-changing employment opportunities for the province’s most vulnerable demographic.
