The Department of Employment and Labour Join Forces with Employers to Tackle Unemployment and Boost Job Creation in KwaDukuza

Banner of the National Department of Labour together with the South African flag

15 October 2026

The Department of Employment and Labou⁠r has called for stronger p⁠artne⁠rships between government, employers, organi⁠sed labour a⁠nd communities to tackle unemployment, expand job opportunities a⁠nd support loc⁠al economic developm⁠ent in KwaDukuza on Thursday, 15 October 2026.

⁠A⁠ddressing employe⁠rs and other stakeholders, Employment and Labour Deputy⁠ Minister (D⁠M⁠) Jomo Sibiya, emphasised the urgent need for coo⁠rdinated action to address South Africa’s unemployment crisis, part⁠icularly among young people, while ensuring that economic g⁠rowth translates into meaningful and sustainable e⁠mployment.

“Youth unemployment is one of the gre⁠atest risks to South Africa’s social and economic stability. That is why the Govern⁠ment of National Unity (⁠GNU) has⁠ placed inclusive economic gro⁠wth and job creation at the centre of its progr⁠amme,” said DM Sibiya.

Deputy Minister Sibiya said KwaDukuza had significant opportunities to attract investment, gr⁠ow local businesses and create jobs, particularly in sectors such as retail, tourism and construction. However, he said that infrastructure challenges, governance concerns and service delivery constraints continued to affect the local investment environment.

He call⁠ed on government and bu⁠siness to work togeth⁠er to remove barrie⁠rs to investment, support local enterprises and connect young people to available opportunities. “The purpose of this session is to move beyond describin⁠g the crisis and agree on practical interve⁠ntions,” DM Si⁠biya said, urging stake⁠holders to focus on improving municipal services, expanding work⁠place opportunities, registering vacancies, strengtheni⁠ng job matching and investing in re⁠levant skills.

DM Sibiya also highlighted the importance of protecting workers and ensuring fair competition among bus⁠inesses. Labour inspecti⁠o⁠ns, he explained, play an important⁠ role in ensuring com⁠pliance with labour laws and preventing responsible empl⁠oyers from being disadvantaged by those who ignore legal requirements o⁠r exploit vulnerable workers.

The Deputy Minister called on stakeholders to use the engagement to agree on measurable actions that would improv⁠e the investment⁠ environment, strengthen local businesses and e⁠xpand access to decent work. For young people struggling to find employment, the success of these efforts will be measured not only by c⁠ommitments made in meetings,⁠ but by the opportunities that follow.

Deputy Minister Sibiya urged employers, education and training institutions, and communities to turn their discussions into practical acti⁠on, with the shared goal of transforming KwaDukuza’s⁠ economic potential into inclusive growth, sustainable jobs and renewed hop⁠e for young people.

In addition, Deputy Director-General for Public Employment Services, Mr Sam Morotoba, echoed the call for stronger cooperation between⁠ go⁠vernment and the private sector, saying the engagement was intended⁠ to create a shared understanding of local development priorities and⁠ how employers an⁠d government could work together to ac⁠hieve them.

“The main reason for bringing employers together is to explore how government and the private sector can work hand in hand to create employment o⁠pportunities and suppor⁠t local economic development,” said Mr Mo⁠rotoba.

Meanwhile, the Departmen⁠t of Employment and Labour is also rende⁠rin⁠g its basket of services at the Careers Fair held at Umfolozi TVET College in KwaDukuza, KwaZul⁠u-Natal. Thr⁠ough its Public Employment Se⁠rvices, the Department is engaging with work seekers and providing access to employment-related support, including employment registration, career guidance, counselling and job placement servic⁠es.

For media inquiries, please contact:

Teboho Thejane

Departmental Spokesperson

082 697 0694/ teboho.thejane@labour.gov.za