Latest news with #GrowthforJobsStrategy
The South African
22-06-2025
- Business
- The South African
Free transport helps job seekers in the Western Cape
The Western Cape Government has rolled out Phase 2 of its 'Getting You to Work' Jobseeker Travel Voucher Programme, expanding efforts to remove transport costs as a barrier to employment. At the Mitchells Plain Town Centre Library, more than 300 unemployed residents gathered to register for Gold Cards, which provide free travel via Golden Arrow Bus Services across the Cape Metro. The expansion builds on the initial success of Phase 1, launched in February 2024, which saw over 3700 residents sign up through 150 employer partners. The programme, part of the province's Growth for Jobs Strategy, aims to connect job seekers to employment, training, and interviews. Western Cape Mobility Minister Isaac Sileku said, 'We know from our data that those who received vouchers had a greater chance of attending interviews, securing work, and participating in skills development.' Phase 1 had particularly high uptake in areas like Mitchells Plain, Khayelitsha, Delft, Gugulethu, and Philippi, highlighting the critical need for this kind of intervention. Unlike Phase 1, which required registration through an employer, Phase 2 now allows job seekers to register online independently. Once registered, individuals can collect a Gold Card, valid for six free trips between 9:00 and 15:00 on weekdays until March 2026, at Golden Arrow kiosks by presenting an ID. The Western Cape Mobility Department described the project as more than just a transport solution. 'This programme is about opening doors and restoring dignity. It is about recognising that every person deserves a fair shot at opportunity,' the department stated. The government has urged employers to register as official partners and distribute vouchers to prospective employees. 'By assisting job seekers with free transport, the programme not only helps individuals and families, but strengthens the provincial economy by connecting people to opportunities,' the department added. Let us know by leaving a comment below, or send a WhatsApp to 060 011 021 1. Subscribe to The South African website's newsletters and follow us on WhatsApp, Facebook, X and Bluesky for the latest news.
IOL News
19-06-2025
- Business
- IOL News
Free transport initiative opens doors for Western Cape job seekers
Job seekers are encouraged to apply for this initiative. Image: WCG A second phase of the Jobseeker Travel Voucher Programme has been launched, enabling more job seekers to access free travel to prospective job opportunities. The Western Cape Government launched the initiative and said Phase 2 of the 'Getting You to Work' Jobseeker Travel Voucher Programme is aimed at tackling one of the greatest barriers facing unemployed residents - the cost of transport. The second phase was launched at the Town Centre Library in Mitchells Plain earlier this month. At the time, over 300 job seekers attended, registered, and received their gold cards (from Golden Arrow), which would allow them to travel free to access job opportunities across the Cape Metro. This programme was first introduced in February 2024, and since then, over 3,700 unemployed residents have registered through more than 150 employer partners. The goal of this programme is to remove the barrier created by the cost of public transport for residents to get to jobs. Phase 1 revealed particularly high uptake in communities such as Mitchells Plain, Khayelitsha, Delft, Gugulethu, and Philippi. Head of Communications for the Western Cape Mobility Department, Muneera Allie said too may capable and willing residents remain unemployed not because they lack skills or motivation, but simply because they cannot afford to get to an interview, training centre or their first day of work. 'Transport becomes an obstacle to residents achieving their full potential. This programme is about opening doors and restoring dignity. It is about recognising that every person deserves a fair shot at opportunity. Phase 2 aims to expand our reach, making it easier for more job seekers to register, access support, and get to where they need to be," Allie said. What's new in Phase 2: Self-registration: Job seekers can now register online directly, removing the previous requirement to go through a registered employer. Six free trips per voucher: Vouchers now carry six free trips, usable between 9am and 3pm, Monday to Friday. Extended duration: The programme has been extended until March 31, 2026. In Phase 2, employers in Cape Town are also encouraged to register as partners and offer the travel vouchers to prospective employees. This initiative forms part of the provincial government's Growth for Jobs Strategy, which aims to build an inclusive, resilient, and sustainable economy. Mobility MEC, Isaac Sileku, said that by assisting job seekers with free transport, the programme not only helps individuals and families but also strengthens the provincial economy by connecting people to opportunities. 'We know from our data that those who received vouchers had a greater chance of attending interviews, securing work, and participating in skills development. That is the pathway from unemployment to opportunity. That is the Growth for Jobs agenda in action. No one should be left behind because they cannot afford to get to an interview. We will continue to innovate, to listen, and to work together to create a mobility system that serves all the people of the Western Cape,' he said. How to apply: Job seekers can register online by completing the job seeker registration prompts on the portal and then presenting their ID at Golden Arrow kiosks to collect their gold card. [email protected] IOL
Daily Maverick
17-06-2025
- Business
- Daily Maverick
Now is the time for the Western Cape to step up — with urgency and common purpose
In my government, every second, every day and every year matters. There's a saying I often return to: 'Without a sense of urgency, desire loses its value.' For me, that urgency hasn't faded – it's only grown stronger. It's what drives my team and I to deliver every day on the mandate we've been given. But I've always believed that the Western Cape's success is inseparable from the success of South Africa as a whole. As political leaders, we come from different backgrounds, but we share a common responsibility: to serve our residents and shape a future where everyone has the chance to thrive. Partnership and coalition-building are part of my DNA. Progress happens when we work together, with a shared focus on helping businesses grow and create jobs, and equipping people with the skills they need to take up those opportunities. And we must do this work with urgency. While I am confronted by the immense challenges we still face, I'm also proud of the progress we've made in areas that matter most to our residents: jobs, energy, safety, water security and good governance. We've consistently maintained the lowest unemployment rate in the country – currently 19.6%. In the first quarter of 2025, the Western Cape added 121,000 jobs year-on-year, which is four times the number created by Gauteng, which added 30,000 jobs over the same period. Quarter-on-quarter, the Western Cape added 49,000 jobs, while Gauteng added 9,000. These are not just statistics, they mean that more people are able to build a better life for themselves and their families. It was an honour to see our government's Growth for Jobs Strategy recognised by the Cape Chamber of Commerce this month. What makes this especially meaningful is that the recognition came from organised business, the very community we're working to enable to create more jobs. When the businesses we want to help tell us we're on the right track, it's a sign that we're getting something right. But four out of five people employed is not good enough – that is why I have made economic growth and job creation the number-one priority of my government for this term. We know that a growing economy needs a strong infrastructure foundation. Our newly announced Western Cape Infrastructure Framework 2050 is a long-term vision for how we, together with our partners in government and the private sector, will create the right conditions for our economy to grow and for people to thrive. But infrastructure isn't just about concrete and steel, it's about dignity, access and opportunity. I'm especially encouraged by the progress we've made on affordable housing projects like Leeuloop, and many more that will get off the ground this term. To support our vision, the Western Cape government is allocating R9.83-billion to infrastructure in the 2025/26 financial year, as part of a broader R27.9-billion investment over the next three years. This is how we lay the groundwork, not just for growth, but for real, lasting impact in the lives of our residents. We are also making significant strides in healthcare infrastructure development, prioritising modernisation and accessibility for underserved communities. We have invested R86-million in the construction of Eerste River Hospital's Acute Psychiatric Unit (APU), which is part of a bigger initiative to build APUs at health facilities across the province at a cost of R279-million. In May, we officially launched 63 new and replacement mobile clinics, replacing 57 outdated mobile clinics and adding six new units to strengthen the School Health Programme. These mobile clinics serve rural and remote communities across the province, providing essential healthcare services such as preventative care, vaccinations and chronic medication. Safety remains a top priority for me, as anyone who's spent more than five minutes in my company will know, because no economy can grow, and no community can truly thrive, if people don't feel safe. Our LEAP programme, in partnership with the City of Cape Town and part of the Western Cape Safety Plan, is making an impact. We've recorded three consecutive drops in the murder rate, and we continue to push for our fair share of policing resources and powers from the national government to protect every resident, because crime is still devastatingly high. By addressing safety through evidence and data, we adapt our strategies, as we have with our double-up deployment of LEAP resources. This was a very difficult decision – to take resources away from some areas and double-up in the worst-affected areas. But tackling crime is complex, and we must be agile. Since the second half of 2024, LEAP has been deployed in six high-priority areas: Delft, Nyanga, Philippi East, Gugulethu, Khayelitsha and Mitchells Plain. Of these, there were decreases in Gugulethu of 39.7%, Khayelitsha of 9.5%, and Nyanga of 12.5%. Worryingly, there were increases in Delft of 1.5% and Philippi East of 63.9%. This suggests that our approach can make a difference, but we still have so much more to do. In our schools, we are investing heavily in giving pupils the best possible start in life. Our Rapid School Build programme is building more schools faster than ever. So far, we have completed 15 new schools, in communities where demand for school places is highest. Over the next three years we aim to complete 29 new and replacement schools in the Western Cape. Our matric class of 2024 made us very proud, achieving the highest pass rate yet for the province (86.6%), the highest bachelor's pass rate yet for the Western Cape (47.8%) and the top mathematics pass rate in the country – to name just a few accolades. We've also made real progress on energy, a key foundation for a bustling economy. Through our Energy Resilience Programme we've added 1,000MW of non-Eskom energy to the grid, with another 1,000MW in the pipeline. That's nearly R7-billion invested to protect households and businesses from the uncertainty of load shedding. But resilience and securing future economic growth isn't just about electricity: it's about water too. Our Water Resilience Strategy will help us protect this vital resource for generations to come. It's grounded in the same forward-thinking, science-led approach that helped us avoid Day Zero just a few years ago. And underpinning it all is a strong foundation of good governance. For the second year in a row all 14 provincial departments and 11 public entities have received clean audits. That's not just good financial management, it's a signal to investors, partners and residents that their money is being used wisely and transparently, and that we are building a foundation for our residents to live lives that they value. While I am proud of our progress, I'm far from satisfied. There is still so much more to do. And in these tough economic times, we have to do more with less. That means working smarter, acting faster, thinking bigger, and never settling for second-best. We know we can't afford to go backwards. Too many South Africans are still out of work. Too many families still feel unsafe. And too many communities are still waiting for the change they've been promised. That's why I feel that urgency in my bones. It's why I show up every single day determined to keep pushing forward. If there's one thing I've learnt, it's this: the Western Cape succeeds because we step up. We don't wait for permission. We don't make excuses. We get things done. We plan, we partner, we innovate – and above all, we deliver. And in the time I have left in office I will continue to do everything I can to drive success, not only for this province, but for South Africa. DM
