When short-term jobs aren't enough: Lessons from Komati's Just Transition

IOL News

4 days ago

Since March, Seriti Institute has been implementing the Social Employment Fund (SEF) in Komati, a programme under the Presidential Employment Stimulus that enables work for the common good.
Image: Supplied
Komati, Mpumalanga - The silence left by the shutdown of the local power station in 2022 is more than just a drop in electricity output. It is the quiet of a community struggling to rebuild after losing its economic heartbeat.
Since the shutdown, approximately R7 billion has been channelled into Komati through the Eskom Just Energy Transition Project, backed by the World Bank, Canadian concessional finance, and ESMAP. Yet, despite this significant investment, the town's 4600 residents have seen almost no tangible benefits in terms of sustainable employment or local economic revival.
Good Intentions, Slow Delivery
Over the past two years, dozens of consultants, researchers, and development partners have engaged with stakeholders, including Eskom, municipalities, civic groups, unions, and national agencies. Multiple committees and coordination bodies have been established, including Presidential Climate Commission task teams, district forums, and JET-specific working groups.
While many of these structures were established with good intentions and have made valuable contributions, some have, over time, contributed to slower decision-making and delayed implementation. This is often due to limited coordination rather than a lack of effort. In several cases, well-meaning interventions, whether in agriculture, training, or psychosocial support, have operated independently, highlighting an opportunity to improve alignment around key areas such as land access, water provision, and community outreach.
'Komati deserves not only investment, but true integration. The time has come for aligned, community-led action that addresses the root causes of unemployment, disconnection, and disillusionment, beyond surface-level interventions.'
The Social Employment Fund: A Different Kind of Work
Since March, Seriti Institute has been implementing the Social Employment Fund (SEF) in Komati, a programme under the Presidential Employment Stimulus that enables work for the common good.
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Funded by the Industrial Development Corporation (IDC) and delivered through civil society partners, SEF offers part-time employment (16 hours per week) at the national minimum wage. Participants contribute to community-based projects, such as food gardens, public infrastructure maintenance, and learning support, while gaining valuable skills and work experience.
SEF is built on the belief that communities have value, even when the market overlooks them. It is more than a job; it is a pathway to purpose.
'SEF gives structure and dignity, but for transformation to take root, time and continuity are essential', said Juanita.
The Promise - and the Pain
When SEF opened recruitment in Komati, we received over 500 applications for just 300 placements, proof of the community's hunger for opportunity. But within a few months, many participants left. Some migrated to other cities for better opportunities, others took short-term high-paying jobs, and some absconded.
This isn't laziness. It is the result of years of reliance on stable, well-paying jobs in the mining and energy sectors. The sudden shift to part-time, developmental work is not just economic; it is emotional. It impacts identity, structure, and purpose.
Short-term contracts don't allow enough time for participants to adjust, develop new work habits, or see the long-term value of their work.
Barriers on the Ground
Our implementation team now travels weekly to Komati to manage resignations, replace personal protective equipment (PPE), and restart site operations, costs that weren't originally anticipated. Some participants exit the programme without returning PPE, adding pressure to already limited resources.
Our vision for a local agricultural hub, producing high-value crops, creating sustainable job income opportunities, and offering hands-on training, remains on hold due to the lack of accessible arable land. Most land in the area is privately owned or managed by Eskom and surrounding mining companies. For meaningful agricultural livelihoods to take root, it is essential that landowners and strategic stakeholders actively support initiatives that create long-term value for the community. Unlocking land for development is not just a logistical step; it is a signal of shared commitment to inclusive, regenerative economic growth.
Some of the currently established communal gardens rely on municipal supplies, which are often unreliable, while others are still awaiting approval to access nearby mine water sources. As a result, even the most basic needs remain out of reach.
From Circuit Breaker to Catalyst
The Social Employment Fund (SEF) has already positively impacted the lives of over 100 000 people nationwide. It has supported communities in growing gardens, nurturing small businesses, and opening new doors for young people, whether through digital tools, early childhood development, or financial literacy.
For many, SEF has been more than a programme; it's been a lifeline, disrupting the cycles of unemployment and marginalisation. It holds the promise of lasting change. But real transformation takes more than short-term effort. It needs time, trust, and co-investment.
As one participant put it, 'You can't heal, grow, or rebuild in just ten months. Real change takes time.'
Komati's Lesson: Think Long-Term
Public employment programmes must move beyond the logic of temporary relief. To be truly effective, they must walk with communities at their own pace, rooted in their realities, rather than ahead of them or imposed from above. Transformation is not only about jobs; it's about supporting transitions that are social, emotional, and economic.
SEF's strength lies in its holistic design. It provides income, yes, but also a renewed sense of purpose, structure in daily life, and a vision for what's possible. It builds confidence, fosters community cohesion, and opens pathways that were previously closed.
But this kind of impact doesn't happen overnight. If SEF is to fulfil its transformative potential. In that case, it must be given room to grow, sustained with long-term commitment, scaled to reach more communities, and strengthened through collaboration, trust, and investment in what works.
A Call to Action
Suppose we are genuinely committed to a Just Energy Transition, one that includes everyone and builds a society that works for all. In that case, we must invest in programmes like SEF with the long-term vision, patience, and support they deserve.
Komati is not just calling for jobs. It is calling for healing, for stability, and for the space to reimagine its future. Communities in transition need more than a quick fix; they need partners who will walk the journey with them.
We cannot offer a ladder of hope only to pull it away before people have found their footing. Instead, let us build bridges that last and walk them side by side with the communities we serve.