Thousands queue for Tshwane job drive

Thousands of young people have been queueing at centres across the seven regions of the city this week, hopeful to secure a position in the City of Tshwane’s Tshepo 10 000 programme.

The programme, launched by executive mayor Kgosientso Ramokgopa last week, aims to help address the problem of unemployment in the city by providing 10 000 young people between the ages of 21 and 35 with training and placement in different sectors.

The sectors are electricity and energy, water and sanitation, roads and transport, housing and human settlements and environmental management.

Upon completion of their skills training, the youths will be grouped into co-operatives which are then eligible to work on projects such as fixing potholes, traffic lights and road markings in the city.

Yesterday, thousands of hopefuls gathered outside the Atteridgeville community hall, opposite the Atteridgeville police station, to register and receive their application forms for the programme.

The queue wound its way around the block and many mothers had their babies on their back. Mothers with babies were allowed to register without queueing, for the sake of the babies.

Thirty-year-old Vinolia Kgapola brought her four-month-old baby with her to the community hall. She has three other children at home. She has only ever worked for a period of three months as a wood-sander.

Beauty Banda, 26, has never worked a day in her life. She has a daughter to look after and is forced to live with family because she is not employed. “Most of the time we struggle to find jobs,” she said, adding she was positive about her chances to be accepted.

By noon yesterday, more than 2 000 young people had been registered by dozens of officials at the centre. More officials were called in to keep the queue moving at a reasonable pace. “We want to avoid a situation where the queue stands still,” said Kgomotso Mohlala, region executive director for Atteridgeville and the inner city.

Before the youths were allowed into the centre, Tshepo 10 000 officials checked their documents to make sure they are eligible for the programme and have everything required of them at hand. One young man from Joburg managed to get in even though only citizens of Tshwane are allowed.

One applicant, Michael Mosala, 26, has been unemployed for two years.

“Finding a job is not as easy as I thought,” he said.

He heard about Tshepo 10 000 from his ward councillor and is positive he will be one of the participants.

“I can feel it in my veins. I am ready for Tshwane,” he said, adding he had one child he struggled to support.

Sewisha Lekgoathe, 27, was retrenched after he worked for two years. He has two children he cannot afford to support.

“I trust our municipality. I need them to help me so I can maintain my kids who are struggling,” he said.

The registration centre at Pilditch Stadium was less busy and by 11am yesterday, 700 youths had been registered.

Buses were called in to take some of the people from the Atteridgeville community centre to Pilditch to speed up the process.

“I am extremely happy with how things turned out. All we want is to avoid chaos,” Mohlala said.

On Monday, more than 1 000 young people were registered at the Mabopane Indoor Sports Centre.

Application forms must be completed and returned to the venues in the seven regions on August 6, 7 and 8.

The first group of 2 500 participants will start training on August 26. The remainder will be divided into three groups of 2 500 participants for each quarter of the current financial year. - Pretoria News

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