Gauteng Premier, Panyaza Lesufi says his Cleaning and Greening Expanded Public Works Programme is necessitated by the need to curb the high unemployment rate and the need to keep the province clean.
Lesufi launched his initiative at Dobsonville Stadium today in front of thousands of the new recruits and a continuation of the crime prevention programme where thousands of wardens were hired last month.
Lesufi said the 6 000 recruits will intensify the government’s efforts to keep Gauteng clean and green whilst addressing youth unemployment.
He said the recruits were selected from 26 priority townships, informal settlements and hostels across the province.
“Today we are launching an additional 6 000 job opportunities under the Gauteng Department of Agriculture, Rural Development and Environment (GDARD) expanded public works programme.
“This green army will provide support in establishing food gardens in different communities, assist schools to establish environment projects and take part in various cleaning campaigns across the province,” said Lesufi
He said the program is scheduled to last 12 months but the contract will be extended by another six months.
“I’m releasing you to go out and not spend time doing anything other than to clean all our communities immediately. I’m saying to you if you make us proud, we will make you proud, if you do your work the way you are supposed to, I’m going to add another six months,” he said to a cheering crowd.
Lesufi also said he wants to hire more people to deal with service delivery issues next week.
“I’m looking for 6 000 people to go and close portholes in our townships, from next week I want 6 000 more young people”.
One of the new recruits Amila Dlomo from Newlands, Joburg said she is happy about the programme which will ensure she earns something. “I understand the payment won’t be much, it’s better than nothing. Another new recruit from Sharpeville near Vanderbijlpark, Tiso Botsana said she has been unemployed for too long and she is finally happy she has a job. I’ve been home doing nothing for too long. The Sassa grant was not enough to help get by throughout the month but now it’s going to be better.”
Another recruit from Vereeniging Sinethemba Khanyile said he has never had formal employment in his entire life.
“I passed matric in 2016 and since then I’ve never had a job I had given up but this gives me a chance to start something,” said Khanyile adding that he needed the money for a driver’s licence.
