ATM MP Vuyo Zungula. The African Transformation Movement calls for urgent government action in response to alarming suicide rates among young men in South Africa. In Picture: ATM MP leader Vuyo Zungula.
Image: Oupa Mokoena/Independent Newspapers
The African Transformation Movement (ATM) has applauded Minister of Women, Youth and Persons with Disabilities Sindisiwe Chikunga for officially recognising the alarming rise in suicide rates among young men as a national crisis.
During a recent parliamentary session, Chikunga said South Africa was grappling with an escalating public health concern that has long affected communities without adequate intervention.
Chikunga was responding to questions posed by ATM leader Vuyo Zungula, who emphasised the need for a coordinated government response to what he described as a crisis deeply affecting various socio-economic sectors.
Zungula said many communities had witnessed the crisis unfolding for years without sufficient national recognition or coordinated intervention.
“The acknowledgment by the Minister that this is a multifaceted issue connected to broader social and economic conditions is a crucial first step, but we require more than just words; we need concrete action and long-term investment,” he said.
Zungula also highlighted concerns over the lack of detailed national data disaggregated by age and province, which he said hindered targeted interventions.
“Without accurate data, it becomes difficult to design targeted interventions or fully understand the scale of the crisis across different communities,” he said.
He added that suicide was now the second leading cause of death among people aged 15 to 29, with nearly 80% of recorded cases involving young men in South Africa.
The ATM is calling on government to implement proactive measures, including developing a National Youth Mental Health and Suicide Prevention Strategy, improving national suicide data collection and transparency, and expanding community-based counselling and psychosocial services.
Other measures proposed by the party include increasing mental health support in schools, universities, and disadvantaged communities; investing in youth employment and social development programmes, particularly in townships and rural areas; and strengthening partnerships with civil society organisations and community structures already involved in critical intervention work.
Zungula also said the involvement of the Department of Sport, Arts and Culture was necessary.
“Artists must not be overlooked; their wellbeing should form part of this broader national response,” he said.
The urgency of the crisis was further underscored by the minister’s acknowledgment of direct links between unemployment and mental wellbeing.
In response, Zungula said: “Creating jobs is not just an economic necessity, but part of restoring dignity, hope, stability, and social wellbeing among young people.
“Too many young people are losing hope, and the country cannot afford to continue with inaction,” he cautioned.
Chikunga affirmed that the department was working to address underlying issues such as unemployment and trauma, while strengthening mental health support systems.
“Specific national statistics disaggregated by province for the past five years are still being finalised,” she said.
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