Soweto youth vow to keep the fight going for job opportunities

Following last week’s march to the Mayor’s Office, Soweto’s unemployed young people have vowed to continue their fight for opportunities.

This past Sunday, they convened another meeting at Thokoza Park to discuss a way forward while they await a response from the City of Johannesburg.

The non-political and non-organisational movement was formed last week to put pressure on government and the private sector to prioritise local youth when it comes to job opportunities.

ALSO READ: WATCH: Soweto youth march to mayor’s office with CVs in hand and list of demands

The leader of the movement, Thabang Moloi said the Sunday meeting was meant to keep the momentum going following last week’s march.

He said they felt that there was not enough movement on the side of government hence they have to always be visible and keep the conversation about job opportunities going.

Even though the Sunday meeting was not attended by as many people compared to those who marched to the Mayor’s office, it demonstrated the willingness of the youth to continue with the fight for jobs.

“There is a negative narrative about South African youth that they are lazy and they don’t want to work.

“So, them standing up in their numbers and going out to ask for jobs like this will show our government that our young people are serious about working,” said Moloi.

ALSO READ: Local residents march to Eskom offices in Diepkloof to make demands

He added that the meeting was for them to update the youth about other plans they have of working with the private sector because they can’t sit back and do nothing while waiting for the government to respond to their memorandum of demands.

Part of their plan is to approach companies which have operations in Soweto to see if there are any opportunities available for locals.

Those who attended the meeting submitted their details to form a database which will help determine how many unemployed young people are skilled in which fields.

Their details will also be taken to companies which have been approached by the movement for possible opportunities.

Moloi said, “We have started knocking at a few doors in the private sector and there are companies who have showed willingness to hire our youth, hence we took their details today.

“We want to make an example with the ones who were here today to say here are jobs, and we will come back again to give feedback to the community once we succeed in that.”

This movement has caught the attention of young people in other townships beyond Soweto who also want to join the fight for opportunities.

ALSO READ: Ward 17 and 18 residents protest against poor service delivery

Moloi said this week they will be visiting places like Cosmo City, Orange Farm, Katlehong, Lehae and Kagiso to meet with more young people who want to join the fight for opportunities.

The movement was sparked by City of Johannesburg Mayor, Dada Morero’s suggestion that legal foreign nationals should be employed in the JMPD to assist with the language barrier.

Even though the mayor has since withdrawn his suggestion and apologised, unemployed Soweto youth believe there are work opportunities which are not given to them.

Mayor Morero and the City of Johannesburg are expected to respond to the memorandum of demands within 14 days.