This is after the banker questioned the credibility of the country’s official unemployment figures.

Fourie recently claimed that SA’s unemployment rate would be closer to 10% if those working in the informal sector were properly accounted for, significantly lower than Statistics SA’s latest figure of 32.9% for the first quarter of 2025.

In response, Maluleke defended the accuracy and integrity of Statistics SA’s data, saying its Labour Force Survey already includes those employed in the informal sector. He dismissed Fourie’s assertions as misleading and unfounded.

“About three weeks ago I released the quarterly Labour Force Survey. We have reported on the informal sector and I said the number of people in the informal sector are 3.3 million and they account for about 19.9% of all people employed in SA,” said Maluleke.

He added that Fourie’s suggestion that unemployment is at 10% would imply that only 2.5 million South Africans are unemployed out of a labour force of 25 million, figures Maluleke says are not supported by data from the SA Revenue Service (SARS) or any other credible source.

“The SARS, from personal income tax, doesn’t even have such numbers for starters,” he noted.

Maluleke reiterated that Statistics SA’s methodology aligns with international standards and undergoes regular review to ensure it reflects the realities of the SA labour market.

--SABC/ChannelAfrica--