President Cyril Ramaphosa’s name is trending all over social media for the wrong reasons – high unemployment and a huge Eskom loss.
Statistics South Africa revealed on Tuesday that the country’s unemployment rate has ballooned to a record 29 percent, the highest since 2008.
On the same day, state power utility Eskom announced a massive R20.7 billion loss
This bleak economic state of affairs has sparked some anger on social media.
Many South Africans are indicating that they are beginning to lose hope in the president’s “new dawn” mantra.
Democratic Alliance (DA) leader Mmusi Mamane has led the charge, urging “silent” Ramaphosa to adopt DA’s jobs plan.
Ordinary South Africans also expressed impatience with the president.
Dear @CyrilRamaphosa do you really have a realistic plan to decrease unemployment in RSA or do you need help from the residents of RSA on realistic plans to decrease unemployment. Together we can do more to fight unemployment.
Twitter user @gugley
However, some commenters came out in defence of the president.
They urged fellow citizens to exercise patience because, in their view, turning around the economy will take time.
Others appeared to wonder who else among South Africa’s political leaders can fix the economy if not Ramaphosa.
For one commenter, Ramaphosa has been placed in a difficult position by his detractors.
I find it very strange that people who criticise #Ramaphosa for unemployment and job losses are the same people who wishes investors to close shop and leave SA. Very disturbing that job seekers want job creators gone.
@Fanna031
It’s safe to say that Ramaphosa needs to do something about the economy real fast because he’s losing goodwill from South Africans much faster.