According to Statistics South Africa, the country's graduate unemployment rate is relatively low however graduates are still finding it difficult to find jobs.
At an election campaign in the Western Cape in 2021, the Economic Freedom Fighters (EFF) President Julius Malema said that if his party was voted into power, those who have graduated would be given a "graduation allowance" while they try to find jobs.
“There must be an allowance and it must be a proper allowance of a person who has graduated so that many generations are not discouraged from going to school." said Malema.
The EFF has now called on the government to consider a job-seeking allowance which should be given to unemployed graduates and the youth in general who are looking for work.
It is estimated that young people spend around R1200 on data, printing and transport costs when they are looking for employment.
The government said it has considered many options to support the unemployed and that a basic package of support in the form of a work seekers allowance is being modelled by National Treasury.
The job-seekers grant would assist people in actively looking for work and travelling to interviews.
However, the implementation of the allowance will depend on the availability of funding and take into account the R350 Social Relief of Distress (SRD) grant which is currently being paid to unemployed people who do not receive an income.
The Department of Employment and Labour and the National Pathway Management Network formed under the Presidential Youth Employment Intervention provides free assistance to job seeking people which includes compiling CVs, job preparation, life skills and employment counselling.
They also provide access to job opportunities that employers have made available.
