Jobs – Unemployment is expected to reach 32.4% in 2023, nearly 10 percentage points higher than when the ANC came to power in 1994. Youth make up more than half of the country’s unemployed, with the unemployment rate exceeding 40%.
economy – The root cause of the unemployment crisis is sluggish economic growth. South Africa’s economy has barely grown for over a decade, with average economic growth of 0.8% since 2012.
Power outage Known in South Africa as “load shedding”, planned blackouts imposed by state power company Eskom because it cannot generate enough electricity to meet demand have caused problems for homes and businesses alike.
corruption – A long series of corruption scandals involving ANC officials and associates have created a perception among many South Africans that the greed of those in power is leading to a deterioration in the quality of services for everyone else.
crime – South Africa has one of the highest rates of violent crime in the world. The problem is exacerbated in densely populated suburban areas of the city, where many working-class black people live.
Immigration – According to the latest census in 2022, 2.4 million of South Africa’s population of 62 million are immigrants, up from 835,000 in 1996 when the post-apartheid constitution was promulgated.
