Mandisa Magubane

The Fourth Industrial Revolution (4IR) is going to make South Africa’s unemployment rate skyrocket as machines are taking over industries. Taking a closer look at the economy, the current Gross Domestic Product (GDP) and the introduction of the 4IR . It was inevitable that such an increase occurred.

Unemployment in South Africa has been a controversial topic for many years yet there has not been a concrete solution to fight against this epidemic. South Africa’s unemployment rate has increased to 29% in the second quarter of 2019. According to Stats SA, this is the highest level recorded since the introduction of the Quarterly Labour Force Survey in 2008.

During an address at the University of Johannesburg, President Cyril Ramaphosa said, “Many more people are going to lose jobs, they will lose jobs because of technology, globalisation and climate change”.

The increase in unemployment sent many people raging on social media. It is unfortunate how machines and technologies mainly affect jobs by people who barely make enough to survive until their next pay cheque.

There are more people graduating and hoping to finally get their share of the pot of gold at the end of the rainbow, only to find that the rainbow has no end. It’s just a long empty path constructed by dreams and poverty.

It is said that the implementation of the 4IR will increase productivity in the country and that will increase the Gross National Income (GNI) and so forth, but then again that’s what was said about the first, second and third revolutions… right?

We are constantly trying to play catch with developed countries, not paying attention to issues faced by the average South African. Until these have been addressed every ‘revolution’ will leave thousands of South Africans drowning in poverty.