The Democratic Alliance (DA) in the Northern Cape will continue to demand rigorous oversight of various employment programmes launched by the provincial government, including those intended to revitalise rural and township economies.
We note that the recent Quarterly Labour Force Survey (QLFS) for the fourth quarter of 2025 records decreases in both the official and expanded unemployment rates of the province, bringing it to 27.1% and 42.9% respectively. But over the past three years, decreased unemployment in the third and fourth quarters are offset immediately by increased unemployment in the first and second quarters. This confirms that the provincial government remains incapable of translating temporary, seasonal opportunities into lasting employment and permanent economic benefits for rural communities.
We need to overhaul provincial finances and refocus provincial thinking to eliminate political interference in critical projects, to outlaw cadre deployment, to act decisively against crime and corruption that robs communities of opportunities, and to strengthen municipal service delivery. Our neighboring province confirms the difference that can be made with good governance, as the Western Cape created 93 000 jobs at the same time that Gauteng lost 54 000 jobs.
We must roll up our sleeves to get the Northern Cape back to work.