South Africa’s Statistician General, Risenga Maluleke, has firmly defended the integrity of the nation’s unemployment data after Capitec Bank CEO Gerrie Fourie challenged the accuracy of the figures. Fourie recently suggested that South Africa’s Q1 2025 unemployment rate of 32.9%—one of the highest globally—would be significantly lower, closer to 10%, if self-employed individuals and informal sector workers were properly accounted for.

Responding in a letter published by Business Day, Maluleke dismissed these claims as “incorrect and misleading,” asserting that Statistics South Africa rigorously adheres to International Labour Organisation (ILO) guidelines. According to these standards, informal employment is defined by characteristics such as unregistered income tax status and small workplace size—specifically, enterprises employing fewer than five individuals.

Maluleke emphasised that informal sector employment is consistently measured through the organisation’s quarterly labour-force survey and the survey of employers and self-employed, among others. He argued that these data products provide critical insights into the informal economy, contributing to sound policy development rather than distorting the national employment picture.

While acknowledging the importance of public dialogue, Maluleke urged industry leaders to base their critiques on evidence and to engage constructively with official statistics. He reiterated that Statistics South Africa tracks all employment categories—including casual and informal work—ensuring transparency and methodological consistency.

The exchange highlights the ongoing debate over how informal employment is classified in South Africa, and the broader implications for understanding labour market dynamics in one of the world’s most unequal and job-scarce economies.