Jobseeker makes Sunrise Boulevard his office since 2007
For nearly two decades, one roadside worker says the Fourways corner has been his office, and despite arrests and by-law crackdowns, he is not going anywhere.
Come arrest or not, Simba, who prefers to use only his first name, says he is not going anywhere.
He is one of the group of jobseekers stationed at the corner of Sunset Avenue and Sunrise Boulevard in Fourways.
Johannesburg Metropolitan Police Department recently had an operation to remove these jobseekers, after complaints from residents. Simba said three of his counterparts are currently in jail as a result. “I was also arrested a while ago, but was later released. I came back here again to jobseek.”
Read more: Sunrise and Sunset job seeker prefers face-to-face deals on the street
When asked if he fears being arrested again, he said not at all. He said residents accuse them of always leaving the area with litter. “Every time, when the metro police come, we run away like we usually do. We do clean after ourselves.”
He said he has been at the exact spot for almost two decades, and knows others who have been there longer than him. “Many of us here run our own small companies and own the vehicles we use for work. Coming here every day helps us earn extra income and find more opportunities.
It also gives us a chance to market the workers we employ, because we often bring some of them with us to this spot so that people who need services can see them and hire them.”
Each morning, along the stretch of these roads, groups of men and women gather on the roadside hoping that a passing motorist will stop and offer them work for the day. Some carry boards advertising their skills, while others simply stand patiently, watching the traffic and hoping someone might need assistance with gardening, construction, painting, or general labour.
They chose the spot because it is located at a business hub.
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Over time, the roadside has gradually turned into an informal hiring spot, where residents and contractors stop to find workers for short-term jobs.
This is how I make my money. Finding jobs from passing motorists is often quicker than trying to search for formal employment. While many people who come here hope that one day the roadside might lead them to permanent work, that’s not what I’m looking for.
I prefer the independence that comes with working for myself and taking jobs as they come. I enjoy the freedom of choosing the work I do and being my own boss.”
A media query was sent to JMPD’s Xolani Fihla who promised to revert with a response, however, none was forthcoming at the time we went to print.
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