DURBAN - The spotlight will now be on eThekwini Municipality leadership after it stated that 10 500 people would be employed for five months in sectors around the city by next month.
The programme was tabled and approved by the municipality’s Executive Committee on Tuesday.
Outlining the programme, head of Economic Development and Investment Promotions Shunnon Tulsiram said the recruitment would be funded by national government and was part of the economic stimulus package announced by President Cyril Ramaphosa in October.
Tulsiram said opportunities were in 931 sectors and a large chunk of these would be general workers with 8 943 vacancies allocated for them, 1 418 would be for graduates, while 199 would be employed as project managers, supervisors and administrators.
The areas where job opportunities were included the Expanded Public Works Programme, programme management, digital economy, integration zones, parks, beaches, rivers, emerging agri-business development, integrated waste management, precinct management, tourism, recreation and youth development.
The city said the programme was for five months and the city would provide R130 million while waiting for funding from national Treasury.
The councillors would provide work for 30 people from their respective wards. Tulsiram said the programme was supposed to have begun in the first week of this month but there were delays.
The recruitment process was expected to be finalised by February 28 and between March 1 to 6 there would be signing up, induction and training.
The programme was supported by all parties. Deputy mayor Philani Mavundla asked that those on poverty alleviation projects like Zibambele be considered.
In a separate debate, an issue that divided parties was the spending of R1.7m on a youth employment expo to be held at the Inkosi Albert Luthuli International Convention Centre.
The DA voted against the recommendation, saying that the amount of money allocated was too high. The party said the event would not bring any positive change to the unemployed youth.
DA caucus leader Nicole Graham said her party felt the money should be used particularly in fixing water and electricity problems that the city was faced with.
The DA’s sentiments were echoed by EFF member Thabani Miya, who questioned the amount allocated. He said the event could be done at less cost.
IFP’s Mdu Nkosi supported the city’s proposed funding of the event, saying he did not see why it should not be done.
Mayor Mxolisi Kaunda said the team would go back to the drawing board to see whether the event’s cost could be reduced.
Daily News