Unemployment rate during each premier's tenure
9 premiers, ranked by how the unemployment rate changed from their first day in office, next to South Africa over the same months. Politare shows what happened during a tenure; it does not claim the office-holder caused it.
| # | Premier | Country | In office | Total | vs South Africa | Per year | Chart |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 |  Stanley Mathabatha | Limpopo | 18 Jul 2013 – 14 Jun 2024 | +14.9 pp Q2 2013 → Q1 2024 | +7.3 pp South Africa +7.6 pp | +1.4 pp/yr | |
| 2 | Oscar Mabuyane | Eastern Cape | 22 May 2019 – now | +10.1 pp Q1 2019 → Q2 2026 | +4.1 pp South Africa +6.0 pp | +1.4 pp/yr | |
| 3 | Job Mokgoro | North West | 22 Jun 2018 – 7 Sep 2021 | +9.4 pp Q1 2018 → Q2 2021 | +1.7 pp South Africa +7.7 pp | +2.9 pp/yr | |
| 4 | Phumulo Masualle | Eastern Cape | 21 May 2014 – 22 May 2019 | +8.0 pp Q1 2014 → Q1 2019 | +5.6 pp South Africa +2.4 pp | +1.6 pp/yr | |
| 5 | David Makhura | Gauteng | 21 May 2014 – 6 Oct 2022 | +7.9 pp Q1 2014 → Q3 2022 | +0.2 pp South Africa +7.7 pp | +0.9 pp/yr | |
| 6 | Ace Magashule | Free State | 6 May 2009 – 27 Mar 2018 | +7.8 pp Q1 2009 → Q4 2017 | +4.1 pp South Africa +3.7 pp | +0.9 pp/yr | |
| 7 | Sihle Zikalala | KwaZulu-Natal | 22 May 2019 – 10 Aug 2022 | +7.6 pp Q1 2019 → Q2 2022 | +1.3 pp South Africa +6.3 pp | +2.3 pp/yr | |
| 8 | Refilwe Mtsweni-Tsipane | Mpumalanga | 27 Feb 2018 – 14 Jun 2024 | +7.3 pp Q4 2017 → Q1 2024 | +1.1 pp South Africa +6.2 pp | +1.2 pp/yr | |
| 9 | Bushy Maape | North West | 7 Sep 2021 – 14 Jun 2024 | +5.3 pp Q2 2021 → Q1 2024 | +6.8 pp South Africa −1.5 pp | +1.9 pp/yr | |
| 10 | David Mabuza | Mpumalanga | 6 May 2009 – 27 Feb 2018 | +4.6 pp Q1 2009 → Q4 2017 | +0.9 pp South Africa +3.7 pp | +0.5 pp/yr |
Showing 10 of 34 tenures.
Sorted by total, highest first. Every row is indexed to the last quarter complete before the first day in office ("from" marks a start that had to move because that period had no data, or because the period cut it); South Africa is measured over the same months. Levels are per cent changes, rates are differences in pp; "per year" compounds levels and divides rates. Tenures with under 12 months, or under three observations, are left out. % of labour force, aged 15-64 · Statistics South Africa, Quarterly Labour Force Survey (P0211, trends workbook, Table 2.3), people aged 15-64, the official definition, not seasonally adjusted, the province, from 2008 · province data · as of Sep 2026.