Unemployed Soweto residents give CoJ 14 days to respond to job requests
On Wednesday, a group of about 200 people marched to metro Mayor Dada Morero's offices in the city centre, with hopes of securing jobs after he suggested the absorption of foreigners into the JMPD to bridge the language barrier in the fight against crime.
At least 200 unemployed Soweto residents marched to Johannesburg Mayor Dada Morero's office demanding jobs on 28 August 2024. Picture: Mongezi Koko/Eyewitness News
JOHANNESBURG - Unemployed residents living in Soweto have given the City of Johannesburg 14 days to respond to their job requests.
On Wednesday, a group of about 200 people marched to metro Mayor Dada Morero's offices in the city centre, with hopes of securing jobs after he suggested the absorption of foreigners into the Johannesburg Metropolitan Police Department (JMPD) to bridge the language barrier in the fight against crime.
The mayor, who has since retracted that proposal and apologised, responded by highlighting that there were no posts within the JMPD.
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Morero sympathised with the unemployed group but remained firm in his stance that the city simply had no jobs.
This is despite a looming deadline set by the unhappy residents, who said the city was overlooking them and had its ideal candidates in mind.
A marcher and organiser, Kim Baloyi, has called for at least 100 posts.
"We have close to 310 people. Our hope is that 100 of them should be placed somewhere in government. It's not just JMPD."
The city has committed to providing a response to the requests put forward by the disgruntled group but has not made any promises.