Councillor Vino Reddy took a drive with Fourways Review along Sunrise Boulevard in Fourways to see firsthand the ongoing issue of job seekers and truck drivers gathering along the roadside with placards, hoping to secure employment.

As the car moved along the stretch, some of the jobseekers approached, including domestic workers, electricians, handymen, and gardeners, raising placards and gesturing toward the occupants.

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The scene created an uncomfortable, confrontational situation. “It is painful to watch, really painful, but the problem is, we live in a society where, if boundaries keep being pushed like this, tolerance levels start to disappear. When a few people sit here, it’s one thing, but when the numbers grow, it becomes a problem. It’s not normal.”

@caxtonjoburgnorth WATCH: Fourways Review takes a drive with councillor Vino Reddy along Sunrise Boulevard to witness first-hand the challenges faced by jobseekers and truck drivers along this busy stretch. Video: Ditiro Masuku #Fourways #Jobseeker ♬ original sound – Caxton Joburg North

The number was indeed quite high, and when asked if this was due to the morning hours, Reddy said it is typically that many throughout the day. “It’s like this most days. In the middle of the week, it’s a bit less, but it’s still busy. This intersection is particularly challenging. You have trucks waiting for jobs from builders, job seekers looking for work, domestic workers, and gardeners.”

Reddy said there must be some control over this. “We can’t allow people to overtake urban and business areas like this. We’ve all recognised that it’s a problem, and, as with most things, we have to look to the municipality and government to provide solutions, because we cannot handle this alone.”

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He added that this is far from a new problem. The Johannesburg Metropolitan Police Department (JMPD) and the South African Police Service conducted an operation to clear the area on February 19.

“They had an operation to clear the area,” confirmed Hans Jooste, from Future City Fourways, a non-profit organisation dedicated to caring for Fourways, but despite these efforts, many of the same individuals have returned to the same spot.

Unfortunately, attempts to get a comment from JMPD have been unsuccessful. Spokesperson Xolani Fihla promised he would respond, but despite follow-ups, no comment has been received.

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