A screenshot of a TikTok video capturing hundreds of job seekers lining up at a Durban restaurant sheds light on the alarming unemployment crisis in South Africa
Image: TikTok screenshot
A video on TikTok showing hundreds of people turning up to hand in their CVs at a Durban restaurant in KwaZulu-Natal highlights the unemployment crisis in South Africa.
The video, which has more than 60 000 views and 216 comments, was posted on the Surf Riders Restaurant TikTok page on March 6.
According to a chef at the restaurant, Samantha Small-Shaw, more than 600 people turned up to interview for 50 job positions that were advertised.
Small-Shaw who is also known as Chef Sam said that the restaurant was looking for staff for their new restaurants that are planning to open in 2025.
The job roles include managers waiters, bartenders and kitchen staff.
Chef Sam said that they posted the job advertisement on social media, but they did not expect this type of turnout.
"It was so sad. Some of the people that come to hand in their CVs have worked a job before or they cannot find jobs," Chef Sam said.
"We interviewed everyone because many people would have spent money just to get to the interview."
Comments on the video show people sympathising with those people standing in line for a job and highlight the issue of unemployment in South Africa.
These are some of the comments:
Silindile said: "What on earth is happening in durban. This is truly sad."
"Sam u see how many unemployment people in SA," Noks Shoti said.
One user said: "Wishing every single one of them well in seeking employment. May God provide for all your needs. stay encouraged."
"Unemployment in Durban is a pandemic," another TikTok user said.
The Social Profile of the Youth, 2014–2024 report by StatsSA has revealed that the youth unemployment is worsening in South Africa rising from 36.8% in 2014 to 45.5% in 2024.
According to the report, the Western Cape, KwaZulu-Natal and the Northern Cape were the only provinces where the youth unemployment rate was lower than the national rate.
Over the decade, every province recorded growth in the youth unemployment rate except Western Cape where a decrease was reported.
Between 2014 and 2024, the percentage of young people who found jobs dropped by 2.8 percentage points from 30.5% to 27.7%. The percentage of young people actively looking for work but unable to find it increased from 36.8% in 2014 to 45.5% in 2024, according to StatsSA.
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