Public employment can transform rural economies – Deelpan is living proof. With the Social Employment Fund and Seriti Institute’s support, hundreds of work opportunities were created, sparking food security, self-employment, and resilience.
As South Africa prepares for the State of the Nation Address (Sona), one question should sit at the centre of our national debate: why do we continue to under-invest in public employment when the evidence of its impact is so clear?
Public employment programmes are often framed as temporary relief. In reality, they are among the most effective economic tools available to a country facing structural unemployment, deep inequality, and fragile local economies. When designed well, public employment does not drain the fiscus. It activates it.
