Madam House Chair and hon members, youth unemployment is a major challenge as millions of young people - the talent base of our society - are left without jobs and without hope. Enormous as our challenge is, we are not alone. Youth unemployment is a growing crisis across the world. The International Labour Organisation, ILO, estimates that internationally 75 million people between 15 and 24 years old cannot find jobs. The Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development, OECD, finds that high levels of youth unemployment have persisted in the wake of the financial crisis and threaten to scar young people, affecting their career paths and their future incomes.
It is important to remember this because, regrettably, a blame game has infused much of the discussion, as if we have policies perversely designed to keep young people out of jobs. There is a saying: "Beware those who come with some simplistic answers to complex problems." [Interjections.]
I have listened to hon Mazibuko's somewhat glib prescriptions to solve our youth employment problems. [Interjections.] The hon member promises everything to everyone from one simple intervention and then seeks to demonise and delegitimise everyone who disagrees, in this case, most of the main youth organisations as well as the major trade unions. [Interjections.] Of course, it is the luxury of opposition to ignore practical realities. If only our world was that easy. The Western Cape, after years of DA rule, would then have had a very different record in terms of youth unemployment. The actual record I wish to briefly share with this august House, based on the latest Statistics SA surveys ... listen to the figures. Currently there are 330 000 people ... [Interjections.]