By the AFREEQUE newsroom, based on IOL
South Africa’s official unemployment rate reached 33.7% in the third quarter of 2026, despite 101,000 jobs being created, while the number of people who have given up looking for work rose to 3.7 million. The figures, published by the national statistics agency, show an increase in unemployment from the previous quarter, according to IOL.
South Africa’s unemployment rate rose to 33.7% in the third quarter of 2026, as job creation failed to keep pace with growth in the labour force. According to Statistics South Africa, 8.6 million people are jobless, and youth unemployment stands at 47.3%.
🇿🇦 South Africa · Source: Mail & Guardian ·
South Africa’s official unemployment rate rises by 0.1 point to 33.7% in the third quarter: 101,000 people found work, but 97,000 joined the ranks of the unemployed, according to IOL. Young people and Black women remain the hardest hit, according to the quarterly survey by Statistics South Africa.
🇿🇦 South Africa · Source: IOL ·
South African President Cyril Ramaphosa has approved a rise of 3.5% to 4% in the salaries of elected officials, magistrates and senior public officials for the 2026/27 financial year, backdated to 1 April 2026. According to the presidency, the decision follows the recommendations of the independent remuneration commission, despite the country’s economic difficulties.
🇿🇦 South Africa · Source: IOL ·
The Urban Resilience Strengthening Project receives $60 million from the World Bank, said its coordinator Guy Fulgence Mbengue. It targets 575,000 people in Brazzaville and Pointe-Noire, with more than 450,000 local jobs aimed for, and is due to close on 31 October 2031.
🇨🇬 Republic of Congo · Source: ACI ·
Power outage in Johannesburg disrupts SABC broadcastsSouth African public broadcaster SABC reports disruptions to its broadcasts because of a prolonged power outage in the Auckland Park area of Johannesburg since Sunday. Operating on generators, it is struggling to maintain transmissions; City Power has not confirmed a restoration timeline after a secondary explosion, according to SABC.
Zambia targets $80 billion economy by 2031Zambia’s Secretary to the Treasury, Felix Nkulukusa, says Zambia can reach an $80 billion economy by 2031 if it meets its growth targets, starting with those in the 2027 budget. He expects domestic revenues to reach 23.6% of GDP by 2029, according to remarks at the 2027 national budget symposium reported by News Diggers.The week in Africa
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