Residents block roads for jobs

Several local communities brought traffic to a standstill as they blocked roads with debris and set tyres alight as part of a protest to demanded jobs, this past Thursday.

Residents from Newclare, Westbury, Riverlea and Claremont claim that the ward has not seen job opportunities for youth in their communities.

“I don’t have control over who the city employs for projects in the ward, I just follow laws that is set out for me.

“The city is run by the ANC which means that the DA wards have to struggle to get projects and job opportunities in their respective wards,”said Susan Stewart, ward 82 councillor where some of these protests took place.

Among the demands were that they don’t want the ward councillor because she does not do what she promised residents when they voted for her.

“We don’t want the ward councillor we want the mayor of jobug to come and see us.

“We send our children to school to get their matric but then to find no jobs for them,” said Desmond Le Roux.

“The ward councillor does not hire any contractors for projects that happen in the ward.

“I don’t get involved in any of the city’s tender processes,”said Stewart.

Several other residents said the lack of jobs has left many matriculants sitting at home, while others turns to drugs- another major problem in the community according to residents.

“The unemployment rate is out of control in the township which is the reason why a lot of our youth is on drugs.

“The projects that are given to people are not from our area, makes me think why cant they employ people from our committees,” said Le Roux

“The Expanded Public Works (EPW) jobs are there to provided jobs that aren’t sustainable because you only have a job as long the project last.

“Alot of these jobs require highly skilled professionals to spearhead these projects.

“Which is not very sustainable because people get a job then the next few months then they are unemployed again,” said Stewart.

“Why does tenders for projects in our areas been given to people that don’t stay here,” says Le Roux.

Renaldo Swarts, an resident is forced to sell scrap metal that he finds to buy a loaf of bread for his family.

“We won’t jobs,” said Le Roux.

“Demanding jobs from the wrong person because I play as a middle person between government projects and residents, so when the city gives tenders I don’t get involved in the processes,” said Stewart.

Some residents demanded that the mayor of Joburg hear their demands.

Riverlea and its extensions also took part in the protest for jobs because they believe that there has not been job opportunities for their youth too.

The ward 68 councillor, Lynette Pretorius had no comment.

According to Langlaagte and Sophiatown Police no arrests were made in connection with the protest action.