Plan to relocate job seekers’ waiting area

Informal job seekers will soon have a centre point out of town to congregate and assistance in their search for employment.

This comes after numerous calls to remove them from congregating along Kingsway in Warner Beach after crimes in the vicinity were linked to criminals masquerading as job seekers.

An initiative by the Vincit Omnia VERITAS Trust (The Truth Conquers All), in collaboration with Durban South Business Forum (DSBF), within a framework agreement with Amanzimtoti Community Upliftment Project (AMCUP) aims to assist legitimate job seekers to improve their skills, properly register and profile job seekers, to supply them with serviced portable toilet facilities and a shaded covered area to wait for employment.

Potable water will also be available, as well as a meal should a job seeker fail to secure work for the day.

“The object is to offer a social responsibility alternative to the legitimate job seeker and to engage the authorities to address the issue of the balance of loiterers and apply the bylaws,” said ward 97 councillor, Andre Beetge.

An initial R50,000 has already been spent towards a container office and creation of infrastructure at AMCUP to facilitate portable serviced toilets.

“We appeal to residents and businesses to refrain from picking up casual labour along the stretch from Warner Beach Primary School to Winklespruit, but to rather use the legitimate structures being created opposite the Karridene Hotel next to the existing AMCUP facility in Illovo Beach.

This will enable skill identification (upskilled where necessary), vetted and legitimately employed individuals assisting the community at large.”

To assist, the public can contribute to the project.

Contributions can be made to:

• AMCUP,
• ABSA, cheque account,
• account number: 4058242561,
• branch code: 632005 ,
• reference: LEJOSP Project.

“Excess funding will be carried over to other community projects that are already identified such as the Subway Road ‘hoot bridge’ upgrade, river clean-up and removal of alien vegetation, thereby opening up areas similar to that at Hutchison Park and across from the Winklespruit test station and Spar, effectively eradicating crime,” said Cllr Beetge.

For more information, contact Jaco Wijnmaalen on 082-831-4392 or email jaco@quartzconsult.co.za or Lee Lewis on 082-890-4982 or email lee.lws@gmail.com