Economist and Honorary Professor at the Wits Business School, Professor Jannie Rossouw says South Africa’s rising unemployment rate reflects both seasonal and deep structural economic problems. Rossouw says weak economic growth continues to fuel job losses and limit opportunities. He says government policies over the past three decades have failed to create enough jobs or attract sufficient investment. New figures released from Statistics South Africa show the country's unemployment rate has deepened. South Africa's official unemployment rate climbed to 32-point-7 percent in the first quarter of 2026, up from 31-point-4 percent in the final quarter of 2025.  Sakina Kamwendo spoke to Honorary Professor at the Wits Business School and economist at Altitude Wealth, Professor Jannie Rossouw.