Concerns about the area’s high unemployment rate and subpar service delivery drove hundreds of people to gather at Heideveld Secondary School on Wednesday. The Association of Mineworkers and Construction Union (AMCU), the Assembly of Unemployed (AOU) and the South African Federation of Trade Unions launched the political organisation Cry for the Xcluded in 2020.
Attendees took the opportunity to complete job seeker forms and sign a petition expressing their concerns, which will be presented to Parliament later in the year.
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According to News24, Mishqah Samuels, a community leader in Heideveld and a member of Cry for the Xcluded, stated that the purpose of the event was to address the high unemployment rates in the community by providing job seeker forms and creating a platform for people to voice their concerns. Approximately 400 individuals participated in the event.
Samuels reportedly highlighted the prevalent issue of unemployment not only in the area but also in the wider Western Cape. She expressed dissatisfaction with the government’s lack of response to their organisation’s concerns, citing an example where 9 000 job seeker forms had been submitted previously, but only 50 individuals were employed as a result. Samuels stressed the importance of gathering signatures from all unemployed individuals in the area.
‘[Previously,] we have had people fill out 9 000 job seeker forms, but only 50 jobs were given to these people after the forms were handed in. There are also thousands of people in the database. We are seeking signatures from all unemployed people in the area,’ she said.
Samuels also drew attention to the high crime rates in Heideveld and the inadequate provision of services by the local municipality. She lamented the absence of job opportunities, which led to incidents of theft for sustenance.
She stated, ‘The area needs to be cleaned, and no services are being provided. People are putting up shacks in certain areas. They were promised housing and the housing the city has given them is broken. The roofs are falling apart.’
Patricia Grant, an unemployed resident of Heideveld, attended the event in the hope of finding employment. Grant expressed her frustration with the lack of response from the City of Cape Town when she previously filled out a job seeker form, which left her with the impression that they were uninterested in employing people like her.
She highlighted the scarcity of job opportunities in Heideveld, particularly for young people who, faced with poverty, often turn to drugs. Grant suggested that these vulnerable individuals eventually become involved with drug lords as a means of employment.
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In contrast, Anthony Moses, the councillor for Heideveld and Gugulethu, argued that residents had access to numerous employment prospects. He emphasised that his office received numerous job seekers’ applications and cited initiatives such as park upgrades and pest control that had provided employment to local residents. He also mentioned the availability of bursaries and skill-development opportunities for young people.
‘My office is undaunted with job seeker applications. We have had initiatives such as park upgrades and pest control that have employed local people. There are also opportunities for young people to get bursaries and develop skills.’
Moses acknowledged that some residents faced obstacles to securing employment, particularly due to criminal records for minor offences. He encouraged local businesses to hire more residents and mentioned the implementation of initiatives to support this process. Moses noted that substantial funds had been allocated to improve service delivery and housing, but some state housing had deteriorated due to residents’ negligence in maintaining their homes.
‘People value their homes, but some people do not have insurance and don’t look after them,’ he said.
Premier Winde acknowledged the persistently high unemployment levels and assured that efforts were being made to facilitate job creation by establishing a business-friendly environment.
He stated, ‘While we know that unemployment is still high and many people are looking for jobs, we are working very hard to make it easy for businesses to create more jobs. This is how we believe we can see many people, including those from Heideveld, getting jobs.’
He also highlighted the Year Beyond Programme, a collaboration between the provincial government and various non-profit organisations aimed at providing unemployed youth with work experience to prepare them for further studies and employment.
‘The Year Beyond Programme, run in partnership between the provincial government and various other NPOs, also aims to provide unemployed youths with work experience, preparing them for further studies and employment,’ Premier Winde said.
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Picture: @CryofXcluded / Twitter
