Pietermaritzburg – In alignment with the province’s revitalized S’thesha Waya Waya employment initiative, KwaZulu-Natal Premier Nomusa Dube-Ncube brought immense joy to the faces of the newly employed Community Work Program workers.
The momentous event took place at a bustling Harry Gwala Stadium, where the government unveiled its employment campaign aimed at combating poverty across the province.
Amidst the eager throngs of men and women, who were elated to formalize their participation in the Community Work Programme, Premier Dube-Ncube led the contract signing ceremony for these new recruits.
Hailing from six districts of the province, they enthusiastically signed their contracts and received their work tools, symbolizing the dawn of a new chapter in their lives. Their primary responsibilities will encompass aiding municipalities in tasks such as cleaning, gardening, and road maintenance.
The provincial government, in collaboration with the Department of Cooperative Governance and Traditional Affairs under the leadership of MEC Bongiwe Sithole-Moloi, had pledged to employ 45,000 individuals through the CWP. Importantly, the provincial government exceeded this figure by employing 48 000 employees.
Taking advantage of the moment, Premier Dube-Ncube also demonstrated the efficiency of the newly launched online job portal. This platform empowers job seekers to apply for positions within various government departments and public entities. With more than 2 000 job opportunities already listed, the Premier showcased how applicants can submit their applications without utilizing their data.
The Premier encouraged all citizens to seize this opportunity by applying for the job openings they qualify for through the user-friendly online portal. By doing so, they can save both time and data while continuing their job search endeavours.
“We encourage job seekers to use the eRecruitment Portal. We are saying, instead of people spending the little money they have on expenses related to applying for much-needed jobs, the Provincial Government has decided to bring job opportunities closer to them. Since we opened the e-Recruitment Portal last week, this morning there were about 100 000 applications already. There are over 2 100 posts deposited there today and there will be more in the coming days,” said Premier Dube-Ncube.
Expanding on the programme, MEC Sithole-Moloi elaborated on KZN Cogta’s dedication to achieving the target of 45 000 employed individuals by March of the following year. The overarching goal is to eliminate unemployment across all districts of the province.
Furthermore, she highlighted the collaboration with the Department of Labour to ensure proper registration and entitlement to benefits, including the Unemployment Insurance Fund, for all programme participants.
MEC Sithole-Moloi stated: “We stand committed to delivering on the promises outlined during the presentation of our budget policy in the Legislature. Our cooperation with sector departments aims to effectively place CWP workers, as they are integral to expediting service delivery through government initiatives.
“The positive response we have received thus far is truly encouraging, and we anticipate that this endeavour will have a transformative impact on lives. We also urge all beneficiaries to take advantage of training opportunities that will enhance their skills and broaden their prospects for future roles. We further encourage individuals to leverage the S’thesha Waya Waya program when applying for suitable job positions,” she added.
Some of the jubilant beneficiaries of the S’thesha Waya Waya programme shared heart-warming testimonies on how the programme has transformed their lives by helping them to support their families.
ENDS
Issued by the KwaZulu-Natal Provincial Government