The city has warned residents about a job scam circulating on social media, falsely offering paid placement in the Ekurhuleni Public Employment Programme (EPEP) and learnership programmes.

City officials emphasised that all skills development and job creation programmes provided by the municipality are completely free of charge.

“These initiatives are designed to empower residents with skills and employment opportunities, not to exploit them financially,” said a city spokesperson.

At present, there are no open applications for these programmes. The most recent application periods closed on August 26 for EPEP and August 29 for learnerships, and no new application dates have been announced.

Selection processes for these programmes have not yet taken place. Successful applicants will be contacted directly by the city’s Skills Development Department.

Residents are advised to only rely on official sources for employment opportunities, which are published on the City of Ekurhuleni’s website.

The city urged vigilance and advised that anyone encountering suspicious job offers should contact the relevant Human Resources Department to verify legitimacy.