SHOULD unemployment graduates get a grant or should they be left to sit in hunger?
This was the question Daily Sun posed to graduates and a non-profit organisation that helps undergraduate unemployed graduates and matric students.
On Sunday, 10 September, ANC Youth League president Collen Malatji called for the Social Relief Distress Grant to be increased to R1 500 from its current rate of R350.
He further said that unemployed graduates should also be given a monthly grant of R4 500.
Malatji said this during the youth league’s 79-year anniversary celebrations in Mpumalanga.
Should unemployed graduates get a grant?
Weighing in on this plea, founder of Unemployed Graduate Association, Matsawela Khunwane said she was fully in agreement with the call, however, she hopped it was not a stunt to win voters over.
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“We don’t want this to fall on their manifestos they promise us every year, we want them to implement it because it can help unemployed graduates a lot, especially with the increased cost of living. This fund will put graduates a step ahead to be able to go out and look for jobs," she said.
There is contention surrounding the matter
“Its utter nonsense for graduates to be paid that amount because in most companies graduates are given work that is equivalent to permanent workers.
“Not to say they should be paid equally but it should be fair to them. Graduates are exploited, especially in department jobs and other government jobs,” Raphadu Kabelo Bachelor of Arts in Media Studies said.
Elone Mogale said youth must be intensified because they took the time to study but now find themselves without jobs.
"We know there are no jobs for the youth but the grant will lessen the burden we are facing and will help us meet our day to day needs. It must not be a gamic to garner votes but materialise," Elone said.
In August, data showed that South Africa's official unemployment rate dropped marginally in the second quarter to 32.6%. This is the lowest level since the first quarter of 2021.
Although these may be good news, there are still graduates out there sitting at home with no jobs.
Graduates hustle like dropouts
Machabaphala Theophilus (25), a graduate from the University of Venda with a BSc in Agriculture shared his experience of feeling hopeless and questioning his chosen career path.
After nearly two years of job searching, he secured a graduate internship in 2022.
Despite being a mentor, he believes he needs to divert his teaching career to make enough money to return to agriculture and start his own farm.
