Government vows to improve efforts to reduce unemployment, poverty and inequality

The government has vowed to ramp up efforts to reduce the country’s challenges of unemployment, poverty and inequality.

This came at the end of the Special Cabinet meeting and the Cabinet Lekgotla convened by President Cyril Ramaphosa on Friday.

With unemployment stubbornly high and the gap between the rich and poor still widening, Ramaphosa has called on government leaders to effect government reforms to revive the economy and create jobs.

Economic inequality widening since COVID-19 pandemic 

The president says the efforts will include increased private sector employment and publically funded employment as well as social protection for unemployed people.

For now, government is toying around with the idea of extending the R350 grant for the unemployed beyond the March deadline.

Cabinet has also discussed the challenges and progress in the fight against crime and efforts to enhance public safety.

South Africa’s unemployment rate hits a record high from 34.4%: Stats SA