Billy Modikwe, a community leader in Kya Sand was happy that the plight of unemployment is finally being addressed in the informal settlement.
About 300 hundred people gathered at the Juda Africa Centre on 25 May to apply for jobs through the Jozi-@-work programme.
City officials from Citizen Relationship and Urban Management handed out application forms to residents and encouraged them to apply.
Through this programme, residents of Kya Sand will be deployed to work with the City’s entity, Pikitup, from July this year until July next year.
“We are excited that this programme is directed to the community members and will give them job opportunities,” explained Modikwe.
He further indicated that the City’s Executive Mayor, Parks Tau will visit them in June and address them about other job opportunities through this programme.
Jozi-@-work is a programme with work packages. This programme is designed to create an opportunity for communities to partner with the City in the delivery of municipal services in their own areas.
Ward 96 Councillor, Matome Mafokwane, said the programme was started two years ago. “We have fought for this community and finally, the programme is here targeting the poorest of the poor. This is one of many projects,” he said.
He emphasised that it will restore the sense of pride to residents and allow them to be part of municipal services.
According to him, residents will learn much-needed experience about public engagement and will be able to apply for more jobs with experience.
“We are expecting this programme to transform our community. Perhaps it will reduce the number of young people who are loitering around without any jobs,” he said.
Residents will be deployed to sections of refuse collections and streets clean-ups in the Kya Sand area.
Details: Ward 96 Councillor Matome Mafokwane, 084 854 4950.
Related articles:
Pikitup secures land for Bloubosrand
Community takes action against illegal dumpsite
