The African National Congress and Hammanskraal residents embarked on a march to demonstrate a call for action against the unemployment crisis in the township. The march was organised by the ANC in Hammanskraal. Residents displayed frustration as the township faces high unemployment rates, with young people resorting to criminal activities.
Young people, with support from community members, gathered in large numbers and occupied the streets of Hammanskraal to Babelegi Industrial Park, holding their CVs.
Police were present to ensure that the march did not turn violent and that the streets were kept under control.
Deputy Minister for Public Service and Administration, Chana Pilane-Majake, joined the marchers to highlight some of the challenges faced by young people and urged the firms in the area to employ young people.
“The Deputy Minister further explained that this is the session to unlock what could be wrong with the process that is supposed to be led by the government.”
Fortune Mathabathe the ANC Head of Communication in Hammanskraal addressed the crowd, emphasising the devastating impact of unemployment on individuals and communities.
Mathabathe also said that they are going to facilitate the collaboration between the provincial government and Babelegi.
“We are focused on our purpose here, which is to ensure that we facilitate collaboration between the Gauteng provincial government’s skills development program and Babelegi. We need the skills, and Panyaza Lesufi must provide the stipends,” said Mathabathe,
Mathabathe further expressed anger that some businesses in Babelegi Industrial Park have remained closed for long.
“The closure of these firms is bad news, as our youth urgently need jobs. Additionally, we have noticed that the operational firms have been hiring workers from outside of Gauteng and the Northwest,” said Mathabathe.
“This was the third time marching to Babelegi Industrial Park, but this time we were able to bring a Deputy Minister of Public Service,” added Mathabathe.
Hammanskraal resident Johannes Maseka expressed his hope of securing a job to help each other at home. He emphasised that if the local firms continue to be pressured to employ people, it may hinder new developments in the area.
Kagiso Moleko the Deputy Chairperson of the ANC in Bojanala, said that the ANC is committed to fighting unemployment.
“We are about to put pressure on the issue of industrialisation and make sure that this Industrial Park is open.”
“That is one of the biggest key issues that we are going to transform in people’s lives and I’m very hopeful,” added Moleko.
The marchers’ CVs were collected, and they assured that they would return to receive updates on whether they would be employed or not.
