Metro

South African minister blames Pakistanis, illegal foreigners over unemployment

Published

2 years ago

June 17, 2022

South African Transport Minister, Fikile Mbalula, has blamed the lack of job opportunities for youths in the country on “Pakistanis and illegal foreigners” who take up any available jobs and businesses, leaving the teaming youth population unemployed.

Mbalula who made the allegations while responding to questions at a South African Youth Economic Council (SAYEC) conference on Wednesday, said the “country’s lack of job opportunities for the youth” have been traced to the influx of illegal foreigners in the country.

The minister said to remedy the situation and reverse the trend, there was a “need to interrogate where Pakistani nationals and other migrants” were getting their jobs and businesses from.

He added that the Pakistanis who owned majority of businesses in major cities, had a way of buying them up from their local owners.

Narrating a personal experience, Mbalula said one of his uncles once sold his shop to Pakistanis businessman because he couldn’t compete with them because Pakistani nationals were selling goods and products at a cheaper price.

Mbalula, a former police minister, went on to accuse Pakistani nationals of being “the biggest loan sharks in the country.

“They’ve got an open book and they loan you and your whole pension is going to the Pakistanis. You can even loan up to R500. Your whole pension is going to the Pakistanis every month,” he said.

According to statistics in the country, the overall unemployment rate in South Africa is 35 percent, with youth constituting more than half of that figure and this has frequently led to conflict between immigrants and groups of South Africans who blame foreign nationals for taking jobs and businesses supposedly meant for the locals, often degenerating into xenophobic attacks.

Over the years, protests have erupted throughout the country with frustrations about unemployment, crime, and poor service delivery frequently spilling over to attacks and lynching of foreign nationals and their businesses.

Related Topics:#minister Featured South Africa Unemployment

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Metro

Sign language interpreter, Kunda, seeks inclusivity in media rights agenda

Published

13 hours ago

April 23, 2024

Akanimoh Etim

An inclusive society is crucial for a nation’s human and economic development in the modern era.

In this edition of Project Aliyense, we feature Paul Kunda, widely recognized as the face of sign language interpretation on national television, serving the deaf community.

Kunda, a dedicated sign language interpreter and educator with over four years of experience, sheds light on the significance of media freedom.

“As a sign language interpreter at Zambia National Broadcasting Corporation (ZNBC) and a teacher by profession, I advocate for media freedom,” he said.

Kunda emphasised the importance of the Access to Information (ATI) Act, recently assented to by President Hakainde Hichilema, which empowered citizens to demand information freely.

He stressed the need for unhindered access to information to foster a civil and prosperous society.

Regarding digital rights, Kunda highlighted their critical role for the deaf community, given the transformative impact of digital platforms, especially when mainstream media access is limited.

“As a representative of the deaf community, I believe digital rights should be inclusive. Everyone, including persons with disabilities, should enjoy these rights through various devices to express themselves and participate in national discourse,” he asserted.

He also called for the recognition of sign language as the eighth national language, aligning with United Nations conventions that mandate sign language interpreters at all events to promote inclusivity.

This story is sponsored content from Zambia Monitor’s Project Aliyense.

Metro

Sign language interpreter, Kunda, seeks inclusivity in media rights agenda (video)

Published

15 hours ago

April 23, 2024

Ifeoluwa Dada

An inclusive society is crucial for a nation’s human and economic development in the modern era.

In this edition of Project Aliyense, we feature Paul Kunda, widely recognized as the face of sign language interpretation on national television, serving the deaf community.

Kunda, a dedicated sign language interpreter and educator with over four years of experience, sheds light on the significance of media freedom.

“As a sign language interpreter at Zambia National Broadcasting Corporation (ZNBC) and a teacher by profession, I advocate for media freedom,” he said.

Kunda emphasised the importance of the Access to Information (ATI) Act, recently assented to by President Hakainde Hichilema, which empowered citizens to demand information freely.

He stressed the need for unhindered access to information to foster a civil and prosperous society.

Regarding digital rights, Kunda highlighted their critical role for the deaf community, given the transformative impact of digital platforms, especially when mainstream media access is limited.

This story is sponsored content from Zambia Monitor’s Project Aliyense.