Samaritans come to Richards Bay mechanical engineer’s rescue

AFTER struggling to secure work through online applications and walk-ins, Vukile Gumede’s decision to seek employment on the side of the road in Richards Bay has paid off.

The 22-year-old mechanical engineer who has been stationed at a busy intersection since last week Friday to catch the eye of prospective employers, has since scored a number of job offers.

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‘I had been looking for a job for a long time, with no luck.

‘I tried applying online and going door-to-door to drop off my CV, but companies no longer allow walk-ins. You are lucky if you get to reception without an appointment,’ Vukile said.

‘But I still went through this process for a long time until I decided to get a reflector vest and stand at the traffic lights.

‘I was pleasantly surprised by the number of motorists who stopped and shared words of encouragement. Others offered to buy me lunch or pay for my transport back home at the end of the day.’

One motorist, however, made him go viral on social media.

‘She took a photograph and shared it on Facebook. Then other people started sharing the photograph on their pages.

‘The feedback has been extremely positive. Currently, I have job offers from local companies, as well as in Mpumalanga and Gauteng.

‘I have met with some prospective employers locally, but now I have to make a decision,’ he said.
Community support

Hailing from Mtubatuba, Vukile is living proof that it takes a village to raise a child.

When he struggled to pay his university fees to complete his course earlier this year, he sought the assistance of community members.

‘I studied mechanical engineering at the Durban University of Technology with support from the National Student Financial Aid Scheme (NSFAS).

‘They paid for my first year and in my final year, I was told to pay my own fees before I could graduate.

‘I owed R69 000 and had absolutely no way of paying that to obtain my diploma.

‘I then joined a crowdfunding website and shared my story with the hopes of getting assistance to settle the outstanding fees,’ he said.

Failing to get response or donations, he decided to find alternative ways to raise the money, including working in retail.

‘I then received an email one day informing me the R69 000 had been paid to the university through the crowdfunding initiative.

‘There are a lot of people in the country who wake up every day to do good and help others.

‘I have been fortunate to have been at the receiving end of those good deeds.

‘I am forever grateful to everyone who has reached out and supported me on this journey, even though I have not met them. I intend to make them proud.’

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