Heavy headache over unemployment

The unemployment rate in Ekurhuleni stands at 28.8 per cent.

In March, the mayor, Clr Mondli Gungubele, called the statistics “a worrying factor”, during his state of the city address.

Turning to the issue of unemployment in his address to the council, on November 26, Gungubele said: “I must say we still sit with the heavy headache of unemployment in our city.

“However, I can assure you that this situation is receiving the full attention of the city.”

Gungubele said that things may not be moving at the “admirable pace of some”, but there are some inroads being made.

He added that, at the Mayoral Lekgotla, last month, the formulation of a comprehensive Job Creation Battle Plan dominated discussions.

Gungubele said the tone had been set at the ANC Caucus Lekgotla, which had preceded the mayoral meeting, and It was resolved that the following be the foundation of the battle plan:

• confronting and combating the high levels of structural unemployment;

• incentivising business and social entrepreneurs to create jobs;

• a favourable business climate to promote and attract job creating investments within the city;

• leveraging EMM’s Capex and Opex for job creation, in collaboration with social partnerships.

He said that the 250 call centre positions being finalised by the metro will make the difference.

Gungubele added that, after hosting a successful youth career expo this year, over 700 graduates have been placed within the metro and private sector companies for experimental training.

“In addition to the above, so far this financial year we have created 3 000 micro jobs through Opex and Capex interventions, resulting in 2 000 jobs more than our initial target,” he said.

” We went on to appoint five Vukuphile learner contractors against a target of two.”

The metro has also committed a substantial budget to stimulate and leverage programmes that prioritise youth empowerment and employment through work readiness placements and skills development.

“Our battle plan is imperative for the survival of our city, as employment scarcity is greatly affecting our economy and the livelihood of our residents,” Gungubele explained.

“The city realises that jobs are a cornerstone of economic and social development and determine whether households escape poverty or not.”

Joblessness, on the other hand, may severely affect the community’s well being, while jobs shape how people view themselves and relate to others, thus promoting not only self-esteem, but a functioning, well balanced community.

Gungubele said the Demacon’s market study estimates that the Rhodesfield redevelopment, a partnership between government and the private sector, would add 62 600 jobs and R42.8-billion in business revenue, annually.

“Another project that will create massive jobs is the Tambo Springs Inland Port, to be built just off the N3 freeway in Vosloorus,” he added.

“This project is expected to create not less than 20 000 formal and informal jobs.

“The Tambo Springs Inland Port was identified and proposed as a Gauteng-Durban critical inland port, and the freight corridor for the SADC region.”

Gungubele said the city has already signed the Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with Transnet and the Gauteng Provincial Government, which is “a huge step for us and our people”.