The Congress of South African Trade Unions (COSATU) Affiliate, the South African Medical Association Trade Union (SAMATU), will take to the streets of Pretoria on Thursday, 12 March, to protest the staggering level of youth unemployment in the country.

In its day-to-day operations, SAMATU organises medical professionals. However, given the pervasiveness of youth unemployment across occupational roles, SAMATU firmly believes this critical issue deserves a unified, collective response from all sectors of society.

The unemployment rate among young people aged between 15 and 24 is over 70%. It is SAMATU’s belief that the escalating crisis of youth unemployment not only threatens the lives of young people but the stability and economic growth of the entire nation. It is for this reason that the union has decided not to navel gaze and only spotlight unemployment in its sector, but to draw government’s attention to this ticking timebomb.   

Details of the march are as follows:

Date:                            12 March 2026

Starting point:            Corner Madiba and Kgosi Mampuru Streets

Time:                            9am

End point:                    Union Buildings

For more information, contact SAMATU’s Corporate Affairs Manager, Bokang Motlhaga, on 069 586 8430, media@samatu.org.za

Issued by COSATU

Zanele Sabela (COSATU Spokesperson)

Mobile: 079 287 5788 / 077 600 6639

Email: zaneles@cosatu.org.za