South Africa Faces Growing Threat of Social Unrest, Warns Former State Security Chief

South Africa could be heading toward another wave of violent social unrest, similar to the devastating riots seen in July 2021. This stark warning comes from Thulani Dlomo, former head of the State Security Agency (SSA), who cautioned that the dangerous combination of high unemployment and poor governance is creating a “perfect storm” for disaster.

Speaking at a seminar on South Africa’s political and economic climate in Durban on April 24, Dlomo was asked directly whether the country might face another civil uprising. His answer was clear: “Absolutely.”

South Africa’s unemployment crisis, particularly among the youth, is reaching alarming levels. According to the latest Quarterly Labour Force Survey (QLFS) from Stats SA, the official unemployment rate stands at 31.9% — the highest in the world. When discouraged job seekers are included, that figure soars to 41.9%. For young South Africans aged between 15 and 24, unemployment is a staggering 59.6%.

“If you have a situation where 60% of young people are unemployed, combined with poverty and poor governance, it’s a recipe for disaster,” Dlomo warned.

He stressed that South Africa is ignoring repeated warnings about the risks of these socio-economic challenges. He compared the situation to Mozambique’s post-election protests last year, where longstanding frustrations led to violent unrest, resulting in hundreds of deaths and widespread destruction.

The July 2021 riots in South Africa offer a chilling precedent. Sparked by the imprisonment of former President Jacob Zuma, they quickly escalated due to underlying grievances like inequality and poverty. The violence caused an estimated R50 billion in damage to the economy and devastated parts of KwaZulu-Natal and Gauteng.

Governance Failures Adding Fuel to the Fire

Adding to the concern, President Cyril Ramaphosa recently acknowledged the growing instability caused by poor service delivery. Speaking at the National Water and Sanitation Indaba on March 27, he pointed to the rise of “water mafias” — criminal networks that sabotage public water infrastructure to profit off emergency contracts.

Ramaphosa warned that deteriorating infrastructure, government inaction, and corruption at the municipal level are increasingly sparking protests. “These factors make for what is called a perfect storm,” he said.

Without urgent reforms to improve governance, boost job creation, and support young people, Dlomo and other experts fear that South Africa could face unrest on a scale even greater than that of 2021.

Dlomo emphasized the need for immediate intervention, including education initiatives, anti-drug programs, and entrepreneurship support to prevent youth disenfranchisement. He also called for serious efforts to tackle corruption and service delivery failures at all levels of government.

“The marginalization of young people and high levels of corruption seriously compromise national security,” Dlomo said.

As the warnings grow louder, South Africa faces a crucial choice: take decisive action now or risk descending into widespread instability.

{Source: BusinessTech}

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