A number of unemployed South Africans and foreign nationals are on Jan Smuts Avenue daily in the hope of securing employment from Build It customers in Craighall.
According to Stats SA’s quarterly survey, the number of unemployed South Africans has increased and about 27 per cent of the population of almost 52 million are without jobs.
Kashief Hassien, the general manager at Build It, said the majority of the men that hang around the building material supplier are foreign nationals. He said most of them were from Lesotho and were forced by circumstances to be on our streets.
“They are here every morning, we open at 7.30am but by the time I get here at 7.15am they are already here,” said Hassien.
“They hustle each and every day, every customer that comes in, they ask for work.”
He added that, on average, there were about 20 to 25 men outside the business daily and that customers normally take one or two at a time. “I have no idea on the rates they charge customers but I suspect they are underpaid for their labour, at times.”
Samuel Mohanoe from Lesotho, is one of the men that is religiously on Jan Smuts. Mohanoe said he has been in South Africa since 1997 but, to this day he is still seeking employment. “I have a certificate for sign language interpretation, which I studied two years for in my country. “But I work as a carpenter and when there’s no work I wash cars to make a little money to fill my stomach.”
The 41-year-old, who lives in Randburg and walks to Craighall daily, said he came to South Africa for better job prospects but it has been hard.
Lazarus Dzimba from Mozambique, who lives in temporary accommodation in Norwood, has been coming to Build It for two months. He said he first arrived in South Africa in 2006 and has found it hard to secure permanent employment.
“I have a plastering skill but I do anything that I can to survive,” said the 29-year-old. “Sometimes we go for two to three weeks without any work but we have to keep coming here.”
The men say going home is not an option for them because they have to work for their families.
You can also read: Awethu Project fights unemployment
Add us on Whatsapp for the latest news by adding 079 4395 345 to your contact list and just send your name to us so we can save your number. Click here to find out more about our Whatsapp policy.
