WATCH: Unemployed south Durban residents march for work opportunities at Engen

Members of the movement, Changing Our Behaviour To Unite (COBTU), walked along Tara Road in Merewent, and thereafter handed over a memorandum of understanding to an Engen representative.

April 4, 2023

Nadia Khan 1 minute read

Unemployed people, represented by COBTU, held a peaceful march outside Engen Refinery, calling for work opportunities.

TIRED of allegedly being sidelined for job opportunities, scores of unemployed people from Wentworth and surrounding south Durban areas, held a peaceful march outside Engen Refinery on Monday morning, April 3.

Members of the movement, Changing Our Behaviour To Unite (COBTU), walked along Tara Road in Merewent, and thereafter handed over a memorandum of understanding to an Engen representative.

Reggie Smith, a member and spokesperson for COBTU, said their members were fed-up that jobs and contracts were allegedly being given to people and businesses from outside of the south Durban basin area.

“We want them to give the people of Wentworth and surrounding communities more opportunities so that they can survive. We have so many skilled people in the community, but they are not considered.

“It is frustrating that they (Engen) are not providing jobs for the community who have been affected by the refinery for years. It is their responsibility to help this community. We are not asking for any handouts, but we want to work so we can support our families,” he said.

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Smith said the memorandum was handed over to Engen’s Head of Transformation and Stakeholder Engagement, Dr James Nyawera.

“The memorandum includes all of our requests. We want all companies to employ through the community labour desk which is COBTU. They should also adopt two community liaison officers (CLOs) from the labour desk and liaise with them for CVs.

“We also want that employment of general workers and semi-skilled workers are to be extracted from the labour desk at a 100% ratio and that a 70-30% ratio must apply to all other disciplines, among other requests. We will now await feedback from Engen, and plan our way forward,” he said.

Gavin Smith, Engen’s spokesperson said, “Engen can confirm receipt of a memorandum of understanding from COBTU on April 3. Engen will respond by April 21.”