They are calling all job seekers to avail themselves for possible job opportunities.
“As a unit, we are struggling to get enough people to work on farms especially during the citrus picking season. With this recruitment drive, we hope that community members will be encouraged to apply for possible employment. Even if they do not all get the jobs in this campaign, at least they will be registered on the system as job seekers and might be placed when opportunities arise,” said the department’s deputy director of Public Employment Services (PES), Sarah Lepogo.
She said farmers offer picking positions that do not require a qualification but physical fitness.
“Practitioners at the Department of Employment Services (ESP) often struggle to find local people who are interested in picking fruit as they claim it is hard work as remuneration is task-based. Employers are using this method of remuneration to push for high production instead of hiring too many supervisors,” said Lepogo.
Also read: Phalaborwa farm produce available at farmers market
She added that the recruitment drive for local people comes after the Labour Centre has been inundated with a number of applications for work permits/visas from foreign nationals in a town that has a high rate of unemployment.
The prerequisite for a visa application by an employer is for ESP to search the system for local job seekers before approving a work permit.
“Many of the people on the system are either employed, their numbers do not exist, and some say they are not interested resulting in the ESP finding few local people to fill these vacancies. The department is calling on all unemployed people in and around Tzaneen to hand in their CVs,” she said.
Interested job seekers can take their CVs to the Salom Office in Letsitele (cnr Oosthuizen and Derde St) on Thursday, 18 March from 08:00-16:00 and on Friday, 19 March at Mahela Boerdery offices in Letsitele (next to Junction Garage) from 07:00.
For more info, contact the following official departmental officials:
Lesetja Maake – 082 373 5444
Gija Machimana – 082 885 8949
Michael Makhubele – 067 226 0399
Prudence Malope – 066 479 8809
