EFF MP Sihle Lonzi vows to rally unemployed youth to deliver CVs in protest against joblessness

Economic Freedom Fighters (EFF) MP Sihle Lonzi announced that the party would rally unemployed youth to physically deliver CVs to the Union Buildings, Parliament and the office of Mineral and Petroleum Resources Minister Gwede Mantashe in search of employment opportunities.

Lonzi was speaking during a heated debate on the SONA at a joint sitting of the National Assembly and the National Council of Provinces on Wednesday. 

President Cyril Ramaphosa is expected to respond to the debate on Thursday afternoon.

In a scathing speech, Lonzi took aim at several ministers and ANC MPs, one by one.

“Ramaphosa, today we will not hide behind crammed coats and flowery words, as your Minister of Higher Education, Buti Manamela, did yesterday,” he said.

“How can the Minister of Higher Education publicly declare that there is no plan or solution to absorb all the learners who pass matric into post-secondary education?”

His remarks come after widespread protests at public universities, where many students are struggling to secure places, accommodation and funding from the National Student Financial Aid Scheme (NSFAS).

Lonzi said that Ramaphosa had proudly announced last week that the matric class of 2025 achieved an 88% pass rate - the highest in the country’s history.

“But what is the point of celebrating statistics when you know deep down that thousands of these learners are going back home because there is no space in post-secondary education?” he asked.

He criticised Manamela’s reference to community education and training (CET) centres as a solution.

“CET centres are primarily designed for community education to serve adults who want to write matric or redo their examinations,” Lonzi said. 

“They are simply not structured, funded or even mandated to absorb the large numbers of learners who have already passed matric and are seeking post-secondary education.”

He also took a swipe at Minister of Science, Technology and Innovation Blade Nzimande, questioning his absence from the debate.

Lonzi said the EFF was not surprised when ANC MP Khusela Diko “attempted to steal” what he described as the party’s victory on data costs.

“Unfortunately for her, the people of South Africa know that it is the EFF that fought for data to expire in South Africa,” he said.

“But what do we expect from someone who was implicated in stealing PPE while our people were dying during COVID-19? The data victory of the EFF is not PPE, Minister. It cannot be stolen.”

His remarks prompted an ANC MP to rise on a point of order under Rule 53 of the joint rules, arguing that Lonzi was casting aspersions on Diko and should bring a substantive motion if making such allegations.

The chairperson ruled that the matter formed part of the debate and instructed Lonzi to continue. 

He responded, “It’s all over the news.”

Lonzi also dismissed praise from Minister in the Presidency Khumbudzo Ntshavheni about job creation in the creative sector, saying youth in Venda had queued at Thohoyandou Stadium to submit CVs to the South African National Defence Force (SANDF).

“You should know this, Minister, because you come from that same community in Venda,” he said. 

“But as the President of the EFF often says, when consciousness leaves you, it does not say goodbye.”

Holding a stack of CVs in his right hand, Lonzi said they belonged to unemployed youth, including graduates who had been unable to find work.

“It is a lie that they are lazy. It is a lie that they sit at home and bask under the sun like Honourable Gwede Mantashe suggests,” he said.

Mantashe faced criticism last month over comments about youth unemployment, in which he said young people were “too lazy to look for jobs and wanted the government to provide them.”

He later said he had been misquoted.

Turning back to Ramaphosa, Lonzi criticised the president’s remarks about going door to door to seek employment in his youth.

“As if the youth of this country have not walked all the streets and stood at every traffic light looking for a job,” he said.

“What an insult to the young people who stand in long lines to get a job as a waiter, a bottle girl or a call centre agent.

“What an insult to the more than 900,000 youth who applied for a mere 5,000 available posts in the South African Police Service training programme.”

He also referred to unemployed doctors and teachers who had completed their qualifications but remained without work.

“Do you know how many young people in this country have sleepless nights, depressed and anxious, refreshing their emails - even their spam folders - hoping for one positive response out of 100 interviews in a single week?” he asked.

“These are just a few CVs gathering dust in our communities, but there are millions more from young people who are unemployed in this country.”

Lonzi reiterated the EFF’s plan to mobilise unemployed youth to submit CVs directly to government offices.

“From now onwards, we are going to rally the youth of South Africa to physically deliver CVs at the doors of the Union Buildings, at Parliament and at the office of Honourable Gwede Mantashe,” he said.

“We are going to publicly share your official email addresses - not the fake ones you put on Google - so that the youth can send you their CVs every day until you take the struggle of joblessness seriously.”

Holding a second box, Lonzi said it contained cases of students who had completed their qualifications but were being denied their degrees because of outstanding fees.

“Why do you withhold the degree of a student who owes you money?” he asked. 

“It is the very degree that should unlock employment opportunities and enable them to earn a monthly income. Give them their degrees so they can seek work.”

He said the boxes were heavy with “disappointment, anger, false hope and fake dreams”.

Lonzi thanked stakeholders who had contributed to the EFF’s final draft of its Student Debt Relief Bill, saying the party was ready to present it to Parliament.

“We want to see, Mr President, who you will stand with in the struggle of student debt - the students and youth of South Africa, or those who abandon them,” he said.

He then handed the boxes to Ramaphosa.

“We are submitting these CVs to you. Even if you turn away, the President will give them to you,” Lonzi added.

IOL Politics