BusinessLive reports that Minister in the Presidency, Jeff Radebe, said on Monday that unemployment rates were likely to remain high with lower local and global growth.  

He indicated in parliament that the global and domestic economies remained weak, that growth had essentially stagnated in 2016, but that there might be a modest recovery towards 2% by 2020.  SA grew about 0.5% in 2016 and the Treasury expects the economy to expand 1.3% in 2017.  The unemployment rate, at about 27%, has been relentlessly climbing in recent years and the trend shows no sign of abating as the country continues to record less impressive rates of growth.  Radebe added that, despite the weak economic environment, the commitments made by government under Outcome Four: Decent Employment through Inclusive Growth were being implemented and progress was being recorded in key sectors of the economy.

• Read this report by Bekezela Phakathi in full at BusinessLive

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