ETHEKWINI Municipality urges all those who had applied for the City’s Artisan Development Programme to be cautious of an SMS that is being sent to unsuspecting residents informing them that their applications have been successful and that they should pay a fee.
Head of the eThekwini Municipal Academy, Dr Mpilo Ngubane, said the fraudulent SMS, which is being sent from an unverified account, notifies the applicant that they are required to pay R2 000 for their application to be considered. He said no municipal learnerships are for sale.
“Applications for the said learnership closed on Friday, 10 June. Should applicants receive any messages, they must verify these with the municipality’s application office,” he said.
Dr Ngubane said the municipality will not use SMSes to notify successful applicants.
“The Municipality’s City Integrity and Investigations Unit is investigating the source of the SMSes. The municipality does not ask those seeking employment to pay for a job, and it is not the practice of the municipality to take bribes in exchange for jobs,” he said.
Ngubane said the municipality follows a fair and transparent recruitment process and employment policies and practices are committed to developing a multi-cultural and diverse workforce that is non-racist, non-sexist and non-discriminatory.
Ngubane said job-seekers are urged to follow the correct procedures when applying for jobs. Funded and approved vacancies are advertised every second Friday in the municipality’s staff vacancy circular, which is placed on municipal notice boards as well as published in the municipal publication – eZasegagasini Metro newspaper – and the municipal website – www.durban.gov.za (via ‘e-careers’). Applications can be submitted via e-mail or to the postal or physical address provided in the advertisement.
An interview panel is appointed by the unit concerned and all applications received by the stipulated deadline date are considered by the panel.
The panel compiles a shortlist of applicants and interviews and, where applicable, tests are conducted to select the successful candidate.
The public is urged to report any suspicious messages to the City Integrity and Investigations Unit on 0800 202 020 and the South African Police Services on 10111, Ngubane said.
