Dear Editor,

After more than three decades, the enjoyment by all South Africans of the transition to constitutional democracy remains elusive. Certainly, SA is a better place than it was during the struggle years, but the expressed resolve of the Constitution (section 198) for the nation to “Live as equals, to live in peace and harmony, to be free from fear and want and to seek a better life” remains elusive.

SA has one of the highest Gini co-efficients in the world, inequality is worse now than when democracy dawned.

According to Stats SA: “As of late 2025, approximately 37.9% of South Africans, or 23 million people, live below the lower-bound poverty line (LBPL) of R1,300 per person per month. While poverty has declined from 46.7% in 2015, high inequality, a 31.4% unemployment rate, and high costs of living mean a large portion of the population remains vulnerable.”

This vulnerability is reflected in the unnecessary death by starvation of infants in rural areas, the stunting of one in four of our children due to growing up hungry. Stunting is a lifelong health challenge which cannot be corrected either physically or mentally. To our national shame, roughly 30 children die daily in SA from starvation and extreme malnutrition. South African households that earn less that R1300,00 per person per month cannot feed their young appropriately. All this occurs while SA consigns to landfills about a third of the food it produces.

The unacceptably high unemployment rate of 31.4 % is a critical factor if hunger is to be addressed.  StasSA says youth unemployment in South Africa is a severe structural crisis, with the unemployment rate for those aged 15–34 reaching 46.1% in early 2025. Over 4.6 million young people are jobless, with roughly 43% neither employed nor in education or training (called NEETs by those who study the phenomenon). Key drivers include a skills mismatch, poor schooling, lack of experience, and sluggish growth.

SA’s almost non-existent economic growth is a symptom of the lack of investor confidence in the future of the economy in the country. Cautious investors, both local and foreign, are apprehensive regarding the poor state of the rule of law in SA. Government policies around expropriation without compensation and BEE give otherwise interested investors the jitters. The spat with Elon Musk over Starlink has exacerbated investors’ apprehensions. The rise in violent crime and the recent sharp increase in kidnappings also tend to scare off investors. Voters, especially those in waterless or sewerage soaked town, should answer this question and vote with the answer in mind: “For how long will the ever-swelling ranks of our NEETS be prepared to continue to tolerate their lot in life in SA?”

Yours in accountability,

Paul Hoffman SC
Director
Institute for Accountability in South Africa
Campaigning as Accountability Now
paulhoffman@webafrica.org.za