City Job Centre trains the unemployed of Nyanga

By Rhodé Marshall
10 August 2007

The Nyanga Job Centre has provided a group of 144 unemployed people with self-supporting skills; this is a pilot project which was established 18 months ago by the City of Cape Town.

The centre which is located at the old municipal offices in Nyanga provides school leavers and the unemployed in the community with skills in a range of areas, including: electrical repairs, mechanics, panel beating, furniture production, catering and much more.

“The Nyanga Job Centre forms part of the City’s skills development efforts to equip school-leavers with a practical means of earning a living.

“Latest statistics show that unemployment is highest among the youth in the city,” says Mayoral Committee Member for the Economic and Social Development and Tourism, Simon Grindrod.

Grindrod added that one of the main problems is the lack of access to skills development, which is the most important building block in job creation.

Along with the technical training the learners receive, they are also taught how to operate their own businesses.

“The job centre’s objectives are to help them market their services, process orders and assist with tendering and other support services,” says the City’s Executive Director of Economic and Social Development, Mansoor Mohammed.

Anyone willing to utilise the newly established Small Medium Micro Enterprises (SMME’s) operating from the Job Centre should phone 021 385 0053.