South Africa’s Unemployment Crisis

Posted on October 30, 2025 by Paul Schlehlein

— Charles Russell

The audio version of this article is available here: YouTube, Apple Podcasts, or Spotify.

According to the recently released quarterly labour force survey, South African unemployment stands at a staggering 33%. Using the expanded definition (i.e., including those who have abandoned their search for employment due to discouragement), the rate is 43%. Nearly 1 in every 2 people looking for a job cannot find one (for the 33% and the 43%).

Not only is this the worst rate in Africa, where the average unemployment is around 9%, but it is also the highest in the world, equal to eSwatini at 34.4% at Dec-24). South Africa is in a crisis.

Before the Christian is tempted to panic, as many of us are, God is still in control – even in this unemployment pandemic.

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The Mess of Minimum Wage (Part 2)

Posted on July 1, 2025 by Paul Schlehlein

–– Paul Schlehlein

The audio version of this article is available here: YouTube, Apple Podcasts, or Spotify.

The unemployment rate in South Africa stood at about 7% in the mid-1970s. It rose to 13% in the mid-90s, 25% in the late 2000s, and stands at about 33% as of the first quarter of 2025. In a recent survey of 24 developed countries, South Africa had by far the highest unemployment rate. Other worldwide surveys confirm that unemployment in South Africa is among the worst in the world.

While there are many solutions to unemployment, one obvious answer is removing Minimum Wage Laws (MWLs)—one of the greatest causes of a jobless society. An MWL is when the government makes it illegal to hire someone at a lesser rate than it has decreed.

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TARIF: Why South Africa Needs Savers

Posted on September 22, 2023 by Paul Schlehlein

The Africa Review in Five highlights African current affairs from a Christian perspective. Listen and subscribe through Youtube, Apple Podcasts, or Spotify.

Today is Friday, September 22^nd, A.D. 2023. This is The Africa Review in Five, written by Paul Schlehlein and presented by Yamikani Katunga.

Why South Africa Needs Savers

According to Business Tech in May 2023, South Africa saves at a shockingly low level compared to its market peers.

You can determine savings rates by subtracting the consumption costs from your income and then dividing it again by your income. For example, if you make R10,000 a month and spend R9,000 that month, your savings rate is 10%.

Countries like Brazil, South Korea, the United States, the Eurozone, and India all have savings rates above 10%. South Africa’s savings rate is 1%.

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TARIF: 100 Kids and A Dozen Wives – SA Unemployment – Kenyan Winner

Posted on June 9, 2023 by Paul Schlehlein

The Africa Review in Five highlights African current affairs from a Christian perspective. Listen and subscribe through Youtube, Apple Podcasts, or Spotify.

Today is Friday, June 9th, A.D. 2023. This is The Africa Review in Five, written by Paul Schlehlein and presented by Yamikani Katunga

100+ Kids and Twelve Wives

A Ugandan villager named Musa Hasahya Kasera has finally realized the biblical principle to be true: “Whatsoever a man sows, that will he also reap” (Gal. 6:7).

At 68 years old, Kasera now has 12 wives, over one hundred children, and over 500 grandchildren. He says he can’t remember many of his kids’ names and sometimes even forgets the names of his wives. He no longer can provide for them and regrets the decision he made to take so many wives. Polygamy is legal in many African countries, including Uganda.

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