This comes after the store posted job vacancies at the soon-to-be-opened branch on the mall's website.

Centre manager of the mall, Tsediso Kabi, said they are in no position to share how many people might be employed as it is only the store that is able to comment. He said the massive crowd solidifies the fact that the country's unemployment rate is very high and people are desperate to make a living for themselves.

“We got to see the numbers today. The youth is hungry for work and we really wish there could be a way for programmes to be created – both in the private and public sector to assist the youth,” said Kabi.

He added the dozens of people that showed up is rather bittersweet. On one side it is good marketing since the videos and images of the crowd are being shared all over social media. On the other hand, it is a true reflection of youth unemployment.

“The heartbreaking truth is, unemployment is real. And, it’s not only the public sector but it is also the private sector's responsibility to fight unemployment as it stands.”

Despite the bleakness of not being employed, Kabi noted that everyone has not yet given up hope. People still strive to improve their lives. He also encouraged the youth to continue trying to find employment.  

Despite Kabi’s motivational words, one of the youths, Melita Kapa, said she has already lost hope as there is no way they will employ everyone who applied.

“I don’t think they will take all of us because there were a lot of people. They say the representatives of the store took two full boxes earlier on. There’s no way they will hire everyone. I don’t think I will be employed here, I don’t have hope, I am just submitting,” she said.

According to Trade Economics, the unemployment rate in South Africa averaged 55.55% from 2013 until 2022, reaching an all-time high of 66.5% in the third quarter of 2021 and slightly decreasing to 61% in the fourth quarter of 2022.

In August 2022, the former Free State Premier Sisi Ntombela expressed her frustration over the high number of unemployed young people in the province. Despite the minor improvements by the province in curbing the unemployment rate, the number of young unemployed people was still a major concern. She pledged that the provincial government will focus on fighting youth unemployment and remained confident that the economic recovery plan would yield positive results.

ALSO READ: High youth unemployment rate problematic for Ntombela

Meanwhile, following the decline of the province’s unemployment rate from 38.1% in the third quarter of 2021 to 33.8% in the third quarter of 2022, the provincial premier, Mxolisi Dukwana, said 50 000 job opportunities were created across the three spheres of government, exceeding their commitment in 2022.

“The composition of the participants of these job opportunities is aligned to our stated priorities of designated groups, as 36 839 beneficiaries were women while 17 197 were youth and 407 were persons with disabilities,” explained Dukwana.

ALSO READ: Free State government continues to fight unemployment

OFM News/Bambatha Giko