34% unemployed? Hundreds in eMalahleni say reality is worse
Don't be left behind – make sure your name is on the Emalahleni Local Municipal Unemployment Database.
Residents queued before sunrise to join the municipality’s new Unemployment Database Programme, highlighting the gap between official statistics and daily hardships.
The initiative aims to link job seekers with work opportunities while preventing exploitation.
The massive turnout on February 5 paints a bleak picture.
“The 34% reflected in the statistics cannot be the correct number. Seeing the turnout here today shows that unemployment in our community is far higher,” Mayor Vusi Nhlapho said.
The programme will also act as a verification tool to distinguish between local residents and non-residents, ensuring that Emalahleni communities are prioritised.
Long queues formed as early as 06:00 with residents arriving from wards across the municipality in the hope of being captured in the database.
Ward 8 resident Millicent Khoza described the initiative as “a fair chance for everyone”, expressing hope that it could help address unemployment more transparently.
The event also became a platform for residents to raise concerns about unfair labour practices and vulnerabilities in the job market.
Ward 8 resident Bridgette Magubane highlighted the risk of sexual exploitation faced by women seeking work.
“As a female, when you go to companies to look for employment, the men in higher places want to sleep with us, promising to employ us,” she said.
Residents emphasised the need for tangible job opportunities, fair access, and genuine prioritisation of local communities by both government and businesses. While the database has raised hope, many stressed that it must translate into real jobs.
Nhlapho acknowledged that the database is just a first step.
“We cannot rely solely on statistics; we must address the lived reality of our residents,” he said, adding that the initiative is designed to provide support and accountability for unemployed residents.
For those unable to attend in person, residents can also register via the municipality’s online portal.
The link to the registration portal and further details are available on the municipality’s Facebook page.
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@witbanknews Hundreds of unemployed residents, mostly young people, turned out in large numbers at Emalahleni City Hall on 05 February 2026 to register on the Municipality’s Unemployment Database. #witbank #Witbanknews #emalahleni #fyp #ELM ♬ original sound – witbanknews
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