Ms Busisiwe Buthelezi (24) has always dreamed of working in the health environment, after being inspired by her mother who is a sister at the Pholosong Hospital in Tsakane.
To follow her passion, she enrolled for a degree in Biomedicine. Ms Buthelezi completed her degree and became part of the unemployed graduates’ statistics until the Ekurhuleni Metropolitan Municipality (EMM) gave her an opportunity to work at the Far East Rand Hospital as part of the city’s job placement programme.
Buthelezi is one of the more than 330 young people placed to different companies in a public-private partnership to help graduates hone their skills, acquire experience and to be employable.
This is part of an ongoing Youth Work Readiness Programme by the Department of Economic Development.
“I am so excited by the opportunity I have been offered. I am glad to be working in the department of physiotherapy, speech and audio therapy. I enjoy getting up in the morning to make a difference in peoples’ lives,” she said.
The companies involved include, among others, Transnet, Imperial logistics, Phoenix Film, TNT, BidairCargo and OR Tambo International Airport.
The 335 people placed in private and public institutions excludes the 600 youngsters absorbed into various departments within the EMM.
The metro’s spokesperson, Sam Modiba, confirmed that the job placement happens at the cost of the municipality and is aimed at assisting graduates to gain much-needed work experience and creating jobs.
“The municipality pays a stipend of up to R2 500 to all these graduates. We know that some graduates completed their qualifications under very difficult situations. Some have become the only hope for their familiesand we understand it must be demotivating to complete your studies and still be unemployed,” said Mr Modiba.
Mr Modiba said the job placement programme follows the municipality’s job summit in June, where the municipality received over 10 000 CVs from unemployed youngsters in order to place them in companies as and when opportunities arose, or to link them to entrepreneurial opportunities.
The municipality recently advertised over 1 700 job opportunities, ranging from call centre agents, Community Peace Corps personnel to becoming members of the fire reserve force.
It is envisaged that before the end of the year, a further 3 000 more job opportunities will be created as part of the Lungile Mtshali Poverty Alleviation Programme.
