OPINION-The Hot Topic: South Africa needs more than shopping malls to tackle unemployment

As I pen this on the eve of the local government elections, I find myself reflecting on something that has become increasingly apparent during election campaigns and, particularly, some rather embarrassing mayoral debates: job creation has become a bargaining tool, used to entice desperate voters with promises of employment.

Equally concerning, however, is the narrow way in which job creation appears to be understood in South Africa. Shopping malls and retail developments are mushrooming, creating the impression that employment opportunities are being generated largely through the retail sector.

Retail certainly plays an important role in the economy and provides valuable employment opportunities. But is this enough to address the country’s unemployment crisis?

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When I look at the situation on the ground, I cannot help but question whether South Africa is doing enough to build and strengthen its own productive industries. Our market appears increasingly geared towards consumption, with foreign manufacturers benefiting from South African consumers, while investment in large-scale local manufacturing and other productive industries remains a concern.

I do not believe this is a sustainable model, nor one that will serve our country in the long term.

According to an article published by the South African Government News Agency on August 11, 2026, South Africa’s official unemployment rate increased from 32.7% in the first quarter of 2026 to 33.6% in the second quarter – a rise of 0.9 percentage points.

These figures underline the scale of the challenge. We cannot continue presenting retail jobs as the answer to unemployment while neglecting industries that can offer people opportunities to acquire technical skills, develop professionally and build long-term careers.

South Africa needs investment in major industries, including automotive manufacturing and engineering, where young people can receive practical training, develop specialised skills and contribute to economic growth. They should not only be equipped to find work within the country’s borders, but also to compete with their counterparts in an increasingly competitive international labour market.

This is where local government needs to be held to account. While municipalities may not have the power to create jobs on the scale promised by some politicians, they have a responsibility to create an environment in which businesses can invest, grow and employ people.

That means maintaining roads and infrastructure, ensuring reliable water and electricity services, making land available for industrial development, streamlining business approval processes and supporting small businesses.

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It also means working with provincial and national government, educational institutions and the private sector to identify skills shortages and develop training programmes that respond to the needs of actual industries. Quality education, relevant technical training and practical experience are essential if young South Africans are to become skilled workers who can hold their own in the global economy.

Municipalities should be asking themselves what they are doing to attract manufacturers, encourage local production and ensure that major developments translate into opportunities for the communities in which they operate.

During election campaigns, politicians are quick to promise employment but often fail to explain where these jobs will come from, what skills they will require and whether they will offer prospects beyond a monthly salary.

We cannot keep selling people the dream of employment without addressing the economic structures that make sustainable job creation possible.

Perhaps it is time we moved beyond the politics of promising jobs and started asking a more important question: what are our municipalities doing to create the conditions in which real jobs can be created?

Building a shopping mall is one thing. Building an economy that gives people the skills, opportunities and means to participate in it is another.

If we are serious about tackling unemployment, we must stop treating job creation as an election slogan and start building an economy that gives young South Africans a genuine chance to succeed, both at home and abroad.

Tumi Riba 3 minutes read Facebook X LinkedIn Tumblr Pinterest WhatsApp Telegram Share via Email Print Support local journalism Add The Citizen as a preferred source to see more from Bedfordview Edenvale News in Google News and Top Stories.