The Democratic Alliance (DA) in the Northern Cape notes that the Quarterly Labour Force Survey for the third quarter of 2025 records annual increases in both the expanded and official unemployment rates for the province, bringing it to 46.5% and 32.7% respectively.
As nearly one in two people in the province remain unemployed, and with a loss of 18 000 jobs in just one year, the provincial government must put aside policies that stifle growth and must do more to support SMMEs as drivers of real growth.
SMMEs remain overburdened by government’s inefficiencies. As provincial departments fail to pay municipal accounts, for example, municipalities are stranded without the cashflow needed to provide affordable electricity or reliable water supply to businesses.
We urge the provincial government to refocus public spending during the tabling of the provincial adjustment budget, on paying its arrear bills to municipalities and Small Businesses. Provincial government must also redirect efforts towards supporting small business needs through greater investment in roads, electricity and water infrastructure. Our provincial economy cannot afford more funds with fancy names that drive political patronage instead of meaningful growth and opportunities.
We encourage the provincial government to seek guidance from the neighbouring Western Cape, where 70 000 job opportunities were created in the same time that the Northern Cape lost 18 000 job opportunities. We cannot be too proud to ask for help to get the provincial economy back to work.