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ANC MP Fasiha Hassan
African National Congress (ANC) MP Fasiha Hassan has called on President Cyril Ramaphosa to pay attention to the seriousness of youth unemployment.
This as South Africa faces severe unemployment among the youth. Structural issues, skills mismatches, and poor economic growth are driving the crisis.
Speaking during the State of the Nation Address debate in Parliament, Hassan says government should move beyond speeches and take decisive action.
“Here is the demand from us as young people. Treat youth unemployment like a national emergency, not with speeches, but with state power, with a wartime approach that mobilises every single department, every single public entity, municipality, and every private company in this country – with targets, timelines, and consequences. We are done with an economy of extraction. There can be no license without beneficiation, no tenders without youth jobs, and no incentives without training and decent work.”
[WATCH] “Our resources must not be put into a system that generates wealth in other countries, that must be the foundation of our developmental economic model.” – Whip, Cde Fasiha Hassan.#SONA2026 pic.twitter.com/CQxL7QsNyO
— ANC Parliament (@ANCParliament) February 18, 2026
RELATED VIDEO | SONA debate concludes, Pres. Ramaphosa to respond
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zJQwrdUVWPg
Meanwhile, the Economic Freedom Fighters (EFF) MP Sihle Lonzi made a dramatic gesture in Parliament, handing a box of CVs to the President, saying they represent the millions of unemployed youth. He says the EFF will rally young people to deliver CVs daily until the government addresses the crisis.
“Mr. President, these are just a few CVs covering tasks in our communities, but millions of young people remain unemployed. From now on, we will deliver CVs to the Union Buildings, Parliament, and government offices every day, and send them to your official emails until the struggle of joblessness is taken seriously.”
-Reporting by Mkhokheli Bandla
