Jozi@Work gets more residents working
15 February 2016
More and more Johannesburg residents are getting down to work thanks to Jozi@Work, a City of Johannesburg programme aimed at addressing unemployment, poverty and inequality.
The City has this financial year budgeted R3-billion for the initiative, which is being championed by Executive Mayor Councillor Parks Tau, to ensure that as many Johannesburg residents as possible are economically engaged.
Over the past two weeks, City officials have been traversing the length and breadth of Region G to present numerous work and business opportunities to registered township businesses and co-operatives. Areas that the officials visited in the region over the past two weeks included Finetown, Zakariyya Park, Poortjie, Protea South, Orange Farm and Eldorado Park.
Last week the officials’ last port of call was the Lenasia Civic Centre, where they presented five work packages to the tune of R220 000. Two projects valued at a combined total of R40 000 will require successful applicants to cut the grass and tackle weeds and overgrown vegetation.
Johannesburg City Parks & Zoo offered small businesses and co-operatives two work packages valued at R142 500 for weed removal, raking, picking up of litter, sweeping, edging and grass cutting, repairs and removal of rubble and maintenance of roads.
Johannesburg Water also came to the party, offering residents a work package worth R40 000 for cleaning and removal of excess water, pumping water from the chambers, and painting. The closing date for the work packages is Thursday February 18.
Region G Citizen Relationship and Urban Management (CRUM) Administration Assistant Innocent Mulanndwa, urged successful co-operatives and small business owners to use the services provided by the Capability Support Agency (CSA). The agency provides beneficiaries with the necessary equipment and assistance. It also monitors the work of the beneficiaries and give them advice and support.
“The CSA will help you grow and will help you acquire the necessary skills and boost your profile. Don’t view the CSA as your enemy or competitor. It’s there to help you and make your job much easier,” he explained.
Mulanndwa also emphasised that it was important for applicants to properly complete the expression of interest forms.
More Jozi@Work packages will be up for grabs in Region G again this week: Ennerdale Civic Centre on Monday February 15, Lenasia Civic Centre on Tuesday February 16, Zakariyya Park Community Hall on February 17 and Protea South on Thursday February 18.