Due to the success of last year’s inaugural Career Expo, Ekurhuleni Metropolitan Municipality (EMM) will host its second annual Ekurhuleni Career Expo and Job Summit from 9 to 12 June.
Last year over 10 000 unemployed youth were afforded an opportunity to submit their CVs, which were placed in a database of prospective employers.
Many of these previously unemployed youngsters were selected to take part in internships either within the EMM or at one of its partner organisations’ in and around Ekurhuleni. Others were awarded bursaries to continue with their studies.
The transition from high school to tertiary education, or even the workplace, can be a challenging time for young people. They require expert advice and guidance to make the best career choices, including the appropriate courses to study for those careers and what steps to take to ensure that they do not end up with a meaningless qualification.
“The Ekurhuleni Career Expo will afford learners and Ekurhuleni’s youth at large the chance to interact with various exhibiting organisations and learn what career and job opportunities are available out there,” says Ekurhuleni City Manager, Khaya Ngema.
“They can expect to learn about career and enterprise development opportunities from the Department of Public Enterprises, as well as exciting learnerships and trainee programmes offered by state-owned companies like South African Airways, Eskom, Transnet and others,” he adds.
Busisiwe Buthelezi (24) had always dreamt of working in the health sector, after being inspired by her mother who is a nurse at Pholosong Hospital in Tsakane. However, she could not find work after completing her degree in Biomedicine. Through the EMM’s Job Placement Programme, she has had an opportunity to fulfil her dream and has been placed at the Far East Rand Hospital.
With the youth unemployment rate in Ekurhuleni currently at 36.4 %, it is imperative that the EMM intervenes and gives young graduates such as Buthelezi a helping hand.
“Buthelezi is one of the more than 335 young people placed at different companies in a public-private partnership to help graduates hone their skills, acquire experience and become employable. This is part of an on-going Youth Work Readiness Programme by the Metro’s Economic Development Department, and excludes the 600 youngsters absorbed into various departments within the municipality,” continues Ngema.
“I am so excited and grateful for this experience. I am pleased to be working in the department of physiotherapy, speech and audio therapy. I enjoy getting up in the morning to make a difference in people’s lives,” says Buthelezi.
Desmond Maboki (25) is a Tshwane University of Technology Graduate, with a qualification in Business Informatics which he obtained in 2011. He was selected to participate in a learnership programme at Microsoft, which has given him more exposure in the IT space and enhancing his skills significantly.
“I studied data analysis and now I develop software, it is important that people reinvent themselves. Ekurhuleni has given me an opportunity that many dream of and I am especially thankful of this,” he says.
Job Summit and awards
The Ekurhuleni Job Summit will take place on June 11 at the Birchwood Hotel in Boksburg, followed by the Experiential Learners Conference on June 12.
There will also be a Business Dinner and awards ceremony on the Thursday evening. These awards will recognise businesses and organisations that have partnered with the EMM to provide various job opportunities over the years.
Ekurhuleni Executive Mayor, Cllr Mondli Gungubele, will present five awards to the:
- Best youth-owned business on the move;
- Best good, caring and responsible corporate citizen;
- Best corporate citizen and partner on youth development;
- Best contribution made by private sector to local schools improvement; and
- Best women-owned business employing young people.
“We urge corporates and business in Ekurhuleni to join hands with us to tackle the high level of youth unemployment in our region. To those of you who have already met this challenge, we thank you,” Ngema concludes.
For more information media may contact:
Themba Gadebe
Tel: 011 999 1522
Cell: 076 303 7594
E-mail: Themba.Gadebe@ekurhuleni.gov.za
