Government says there's a plan to deal with rising unemployment
Cabinet has reassured South Africans that the high unemployment rate is being addressed.
Acting Minister in the Presidency, Nosiviwe Mapisa-Nqakula held a post-cabinet briefing at Parliament this afternoon.
Mapisa-Nqakula has admitted that the rising unemployment is a cause for concern.
She says government isn't blind to the fact that not nearly enough South Africans have jobs.
"Government is using all available initiative, including its industrial policy action plan to create more labour-absorbing production and service sectors to address unemployment," she said.
On Monday, Statistics South Africa released data showing that unemployment rose by 2.2 % to 26.7 % in the first three months of 2016, compared to the previous quarter.
This is the highest rate of unemployment in the country since 2008.
Although Statistician-General Pali Lehlohla feels government is not doing enough to stem the tide of joblessness, Cabinet insists the National Development Plan is the key to economic growth and getting more South Africans employed.