Youth chase opportunities on Mandela Day

While many Tembisa residents were doing their 67 minutes for the Mandela Day, the unemployed youth went out in numbers to search for job opportunities.

At Ward Seven, young job seekers were treated to an informative Expo organised by Sibusiso Banda. Banda’s Forum exposed the youth to available jobs in different companies.

Banda said various organisations, including Denel, National Development Development Agency (NYDA), Department of Labour, Practical Radical Economic Transformation, Ekurhuleni Artisan, Ekurhuleni Municipality, Stock Market College, Skills Development Corporation, Peermont, Gauteng Young Vision, Get informed, Tshepo One Million and Productivity S A, were accessible to the unemployed youth to offer advice.

Keynote speaker was Penny Setlaleleng, a professional pilot, who shared her personal story. She said along the way to success there were challenges, but these did not dampen her dreams of qualifying as a pilot.

The Department of Labour official Mamusuwe Mogoboya said it was gratifying that the unemployed youth showed initiative to improve their lot. He described the Expo as a success.

“Job seekers came in numbers as stakeholders. We have spent more than 67 minutes of the Mandela Day sharing information and collecting CVs to be captured on the Department of Labour’s database in case new job opportunities became available,” Mogoboya said.

“We thank everyone who contributed to the success of the event,” said Mogoboya.

Ward Seven councillor Thabang Jiyane said Denel was committed to ensuring that the unemployed youth were helped, and that it would assist where it could.

“The Department of Labour advised us to come up with an employment service Forum to avoid waiting for the government to do everything for us.

“In a few weeks’ time the pilot project of the Forum will be launched,” said Banda.

Banda said he saw the event as a huge success “because young people behaved well and that there was order throughout the programme”.