Ekurhuleni on massive job creation drive

The Ekurhuleni Metropolitan Municipality (EMM) will invest more than R283 million in job creation initiatives that is expected benefit young people in the municipality. This investment is expected to create more than 5 000 work opportunities, the municipality’s Executive Mayor Mondli Gungubele announced recently.

Each of the 100 wards in Ekurhuleni will receive a cash injection of R1 million.

“It is envisaged that through this financial investment, the EMM will contribute to the creation of an additional 5 500 work or income earning opportunities in the regional economy,” said Gungubele.

He added that the municipality would invest in diverse initiatives to create the targeted jobs.

“We have secured the commitment of all stakeholder departments to increase their job creation targets significantly. In our endeavour to remain true to our realities on the ground, the EMM has taken a conscious decision to invest its financial resources towards job creation.”

However, he was quick to point out that fighting unemployment was a mammoth task and there were no easy solutions.

“I am the first to acknowledge that given the magnitude of the problem confronting us, the number of jobs created seems like a drop in the ocean. But the impact these jobs have had on the livelihoods of families cannot be undermined.

“I am certain that those who have been beneficiaries of these initiatives can testify to the huge difference these opportunities have made in their lives and those of their families,” Gungubele added.

The municipality will invest in the following posts and initiatives:

• Emergency Management Services (EMS): 200 Fire Brigade Reserve Force at a cost of R25 million a year.
• EMS: 219 hydrant maintenance, marking and testing marshals at a cost of R38 million a year.
• Ekurhuleni Metro Police Department: 1 010 Metro Police Peace Corp volunteers at a cost of R78 million a year.
• Economic Development: Youth Work Readiness Programme at a cost of R15 million a year.
• Economic Development Graduate Placement Programme at a cost of R15 million a year.
• Economic Development: Recognition of Prior Leaning Programme at a cost of R6 million a year.
• Economic Development Business Mentorship Programme at a cost of R5 million per a year.

For more information contact the EMM on 086 054 3000.