SOUTH Africa's unemployment rate rose in the fourth quarter of last year, bucking a trend where jobs tend to be added around the holiday season as a labour market recovery from the COVID-19 pandemic ground to a halt. Analysts said the rise in the official unemployment rate to 32.1% from 31.9% in the third quarter painted a dismal picture months before the country is due to hold national and provincial elections. The rand extended losses on the data in cautious trade before Wednesday's 2024 budget. A presentation by the statistics agency showed community and social services, construction, agriculture and trade sectors contributed…