‘Drug, alcohol addiction fueling youth unemployment’

Experts say addiction to drugs and alcohol is contributing to rising youth unemployment and a lack of productivity.

They say substance abuse is reducing chances for many young South Africans to enter the labour market or to perform at their peak.

However, Productivity South Africa, which works with the global body, the Institute for Development Management, to track productivity, says there’s hope that the proposed national dialogue could uncover what is hampering job creation and economic growth.

The entity’s economist, Juliet Mashabela, “Youth unemployment is a crisis in our country. And when we look at this measure of competitiveness in the country in terms of youth employment, we rank 67 out of 67 countries. The crisis is so high that when we are compared with other countries, we realise that we are the highest in terms of youth and unemployment.”

Meanwhile, Thando Masawa has been clean for four years. He’s started a foundation called Kakaramba to help young people struggling with drug use.

“The first generation of addicts is fading away, and the second generation of addicts is being introduced, where our youth are being introduced to codeine, zol and all sorts of different kinds of cough mixtures where they mix them with Sprite and soft drinks and different cold drinks. You’re finding one section; there are 20 taverns, you know? So I think it’s a time whereby we must be properly checked and see if these people are doing their thing in the right manner. And I think it’s about time as a country we stand up to such things; hopefully this time this national dialogue will have action.”