Martle Keyter CEO of Operations at MISA
By Martle Keyter
CEO of Operations at MISA
South Africa’s latest marginal unemployment rate decline, is not a cause for celebration, but rather raises serious questions about government’s ability to create sustainable jobs.
MISA, the Motor Industry Staff Association, demands permanent job creation, not quick-fix solutions that claim employment growth when it is limited to seasonal jobs in agriculture due to harvesting and in retail due to increased sales during the festive season.
“South Africa cannot claim that it is creating more jobs when those jobs are only temporary, while more jobseekers become so discouraged that they give up hope altogether.
We need permanent, stable employment, not seasonal fluctuations that disappear within months,” says Martlé Keyter, MISA’s Chief Executive Officer: Operations.
According to Statistics South Africa, unemployment showed a 0.5% decline from 31.9% in the third quarter of 2025 to 31.4% in the fourth quarter of 2025.
Employment increased by 44 000 jobs, while the number of unemployed people decreased by 172 000.
Keyter says employment statistics consistently show an increase toward the end of the year due to temporary work, only to fall again in the first quarter.
This pattern does not reflect structural progress.
“The number of discouraged work seekers has increased, meaning more South Africans have stopped looking for work altogether.
The youth unemployment rate increased by 0.1 of a percentage point to 43.8% in the fourth quarter of 2025.
MISA sees this as a clear sign that the country remains far from resolving its unemployment crisis.”
MISA is the majority trade union in the retail motor industry, representing more than 75 000 members.
This industry includes vehicle dealerships, workshops, parts retailers, and fitment centres, and holds significant potential for creating long-term, sustainable employment.
According to Keyter, the industry is currently extremely competitive due to the influx of Chinese and Indian vehicle brands.
The industry has always been highly sensitive to external factors such as the value of the rand, interest rate hikes, food price increases, fuel price fluctuations, credit conditions, and consumer confidence.
This volatility underscores the need for policy stability and targeted support.
MISA is calling for a national shift toward permanent employment as the foundation of economic recovery.
Permanent workers contribute to economic growth by:
-Have stable incomes, enabling consistent spending in local economies.
-Are more likely to qualify for credit, supporting sectors such as housing, education, and vehicle finance.
-Invest in skills and long-term careers, improving productivity and service quality.
-Contribute reliably to the tax base and social security, strengthening the state’s capacity to deliver services.
-Permanent employees are more economically active.
They anchor communities, support small businesses, and create the stable demand that drives growth something temporary jobs cannot achieve.
Keyter says MISA urges government to adopt practical, growth-oriented policies that expand permanent employment in the retail motor sector, including:
-Tax incentives for permanent hires, especially for youth and women.
-Blended finance and infrastructure support for small and medium-sized motor businesses.
-Public procurement that channels fleet purchases and maintenance through South African dealerships with job-creation commitments.
-Improved safety, lighting, and transport access around commercial nodes to support extended trading hours and increased customer footfall.
MISA stands ready to work with government and industry on evidence-based interventions that grow dealerships, strengthen workshops, and create the permanent jobs South Africa urgently needs.
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