So things are looking up for the South African economy, depending on who you’re speaking to.
That’s what you’ll hear coming from the ANC government anyway, with optimism flowing from President Cyril Ramaphosa’s economic stimulus package, as well as new finance minister Tito Mboweni’s economic recovery plan.
Meanwhile, in the opposition benches, however, the picture sounds a lot gloomier, with warnings of recession and junk status.
But let’s forget about all this glass half full and half empty talk for a moment, and instead, take a look at the facts and figures.
This week, Statistics South Africa announced that our official unemployment rate increased by 0.3% to 27.5% in the third quarter of this year.
Economists put this down to weak growth, continued policy uncertainty and a lack of measures to boost employment.
What this means is 6.1 million people are currently jobless. But what’s more worrying is the situation is getting worse.
Jobs are key to lifting South Africans out of poverty and improving our standard of living.
It certainly helps to keep unemployed people from turning to crime.
It’s the one tonic that can remedy a whole lot of kwale in one go.
It is also a key indicator of the health of an economy.
And at the moment, we’re looking sick... and getting sicker.
Just look at the SABC, where the news broke this week that nearly 1000 full-time employees, and another 1200 freelancers, are set to lose their jobs.
This as the public broadcaster struggles to repay about R700 million in debt.
Ai, can you imagine... another 2200 people sonder werk, and right before Christmas.
President Cyril Ramaphosa
Times are bleak and people are on their knees.
But you know what? Those prayers might just be answered.
With the 2019 elections around the corner, people, this is the season of miracles.
Ramaphosa has had his “New Dawn”, all 11 months of it.
Yes, he’s inherited a corrupt and collapsing government from Jacob Zuma.
He’s been on plenty of official state visits for the purpose of attracting foreign investment.
He’s set up commission after commission to investigate state capture.
And he’s set aside about R50 billion of the budget to kickstart economic growth and create jobs.
But that’s the thing about the ANC government: kwaai plans, but poor implementation and poor results.
Comrades, it’s time to walk the talk. We need to see results - now.
That unemployment figure needs to come down, we need to see new jobs in the market.
The national debt figure of R1 trillion needs to be sorted out.
We need to get the petrol price and the rand under control.
And those state capture crooks? It’s not enough that they are named and shamed - they need to pay back the money and be locked up.
This is the diagnosis, Dr Ramaphosa. Start operating.
Because if mense are not feeling better soon, now’s a good time to change doctors.