EFF Blasts National Treasury as Q2 2026
BY: CHANON LECODEY MERRICKS | ONLINE EDITOR
EFF Blasts National Treasury as Q2 2026 Unemployment Surges to 33.6%
By KasiBCAfrica News
JOHANNESBURG — The Economic Freedom Fighters (EFF) have issued a blistering critique of the government's economic policy framework following the release of Statistics South Africa’s (Stats SA) Quarterly Labour Force Survey (QLFS) for the second quarter of 2026.
The latest data paints a grim picture of the country’s deepening joblessness crisis, revealing an official unemployment rate increase from 32.7% in Q1 to 33.6% in Q2 2026. An additional 345,000 people joined the ranks of the unemployed during the quarter, bringing the total number of unemployed South Africans to 8.481 million.
The broader expanded unemployment rate—which includes discouraged job seekers—stands at 43.8%, with overall labour underutilisation reaching a staggering 46.3%.
Women’s Month Spotlight: Deepening Disparities
Highlighting the timing of the release during Women's Month, the EFF emphasized that the data exposes a glaring contradiction between government rhetoric on gender empowerment and the severe economic realities facing women.
- Female Unemployment: Rose to 37.5% (4.373 million women), reflecting an increase of 219,000 in a single quarter.
- Male Unemployment: Stands lower at 30.3%.
- Youth Crisis: 5 million young people aged 15–34 remain unemployed, pushing youth unemployment to 47.4%. Furthermore, 36.4% of youth aged 15–24 are currently Not in Employment, Education, or Training (NEET).
Cost of Living vs. SRD Grant
The party also linked the joblessness crisis to rising household inflation and inadequate social relief:
- Average Household Food Basket: Risen to R5,530.52 per month (up by R87.81 year-on-year).
- Basic Nutritional Requirement: Estimated at R962 per person monthly.
- Social Relief of Distress (SRD) Grant: Remains pegged at R370 per month—covering less than half of a person's basic nutritional needs.
National Treasury Blamed; Local Government Proposed as Solution
The EFF laid the blame directly at the door of National Treasury, accusing it of enforcing restrictive fiscal consolidation policies that limit the state’s ability to act as a direct employer and infrastructure builder.
Looking ahead to the upcoming local government elections, the EFF outlined key policy proposals to transform municipalities into engines of direct job creation:
- In-Sourcing Services: End third-party outsourcing and tender systems to retain municipal funds for direct employment.
- Direct Municipal Hiring: Employ local residents directly to construct and maintain roads, water, sanitation, electricity networks, and waste management systems.
- Expanded Indigent Support: Provide free basic services to struggling and low-income households to alleviate cost-of-living pressures.
"A household without a stable income cannot be expected to choose between putting food on the table and paying an unaffordable municipal bill. The Q2 2026 QLFS presents a clear indictment of the current economic policy direction." — EFF Statement
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