To begin with what are the main causes of this radical unemployment? One of the main causes of unemployment is the collapse in world wide economy. This drastic downfall resulted in less demand for raw materials, cash crops and to some extent even manufactured goods. Another cause is the advances in modern technology. Therefore work that needs labor, like agricultural employment reduced drastically as fewer people are needed to perform certain jobs. Another major cause is the urban migration, with people moving from rural areas to urban centers in search of great job opportunities. These are the most important causes of unemployment in South Africa.
How did unemployment affect people physical health? As you all know good nutrition contributes to the greater welfare and happiness of an individual. Unemployed people actually experience the rising of their ill health and mortality rate because of their poverty. This is achieved by having fewer amounts of funds to buy protein foods and medicine. Mal nutrition weakens the whole body of an individual and makes him an easy target for diseases and sometimes may be even death. In a house without a job the people in the household go along with their ability to buy stuff through buying less quality foods. These food products are made in bulk and are very cheap, but the consumer gains very less energy. Medical reports proved that an unemployed person visits a doctor five times more than a normal person with a good employment.
According to C. David Jenkins (World Health 1985), various diseases or illnesses happen during the period of six months after a major crisis, for instance losing a job. One of the most important problems is mental health. Studies of many scientists have shown that over 20 percent of unemployed people complain to a doctor that their mental health is collapsing. The major problems are anxiety, depression, insomnia, irritability and restlessness. These problems drastically decrease the confidence and self-esteem level of the unemployed people which may eventually lead to suicide
Now what can the government do to prevent these problems. South African government needs to look at their internal resources much closely, and should stop depending on external borrowing, especially from the World Bank. This helps the unemployment situation because if they stop borrowing from other people and learn to make enough for every one in the county by themselves, then they do not fall in debt. So they can offer more government jobs for unemployed people. Another way is to stop using advanced technologies in agriculture and cottage industries located in the rural areas. This helps because when there is less technology then more man power is needed, which provides a job for many unemployed people. If these solutions are immediately considered by the government of South Africa, both the health and the long living of South African people would be enhanced and preserved.