President Cyril Ramaphosa has reiterated that job creation remains government’s foremost priority as the country continues to battle persistently high unemployment.
Speaking at the opening of News24 On The Record Summit, held at the Cape Town International Convention Centre, Ramaphosa said the unemployment crisis is rooted in complex historical and structural challenges rather than a single policy failure.
The summit, themed “Five Million Jobs in Ten Years,” seeks to generate practical and implementable solutions to address South Africa’s unemployment crisis.
Ramaphosa emphasised that achieving this ambitious target will depend on inclusive economic growth, supported by structural reforms aimed at unlocking job opportunities.
He also praised the organisers for bringing together key stakeholders to confront the issue directly and explore workable strategies.
“Creating jobs is the foremost priority of our government,” Ramaphosa said. “Our greatest challenge is to translate positive economic momentum into meaningful employment for millions of South Africans.”
He added that unemployment in the country is deeply linked to its historical legacy, noting that past systems excluded the majority of citizens from economic participation.
“It is about dignity, confidence and a sense of belonging, as well as the ability to contribute meaningfully to society,” he said.