The party held a public meeting on jobs and the EPWP (Expanded Public Works Programme) initiative in Reiger Park, on Saturday, January 23.
According to Ward 43 councillor Charlie Crawford, 32 per cent of Ekurhuleni residents are currently, unemployed.
During the meeting, Crawford, together with the local DA PR councillor from Boksburg, Cliff Patterson; Ward 33 councillor Hilary Coke, and DA Shadow MMC for Finance in Ekurhuleni Eddie Taylor, engaged with unemployed Reiger Park residents and conveyed the DA’s plan to create jobs.
Such plans include investing in infrastructure.
“This means improving our roads and train system so that people can get to where there is work while it will aid businesses to move their products easily across South Africa,” said Crawford.
“Many workers will be needed to maintain this infrastructure.”
Improving education is also on the agenda.
“It is so important to ensure that our children have a quality education and learn the kinds of skills they need to get a job easily,” said Crawford.
“Free tertiary education for qualifying matrics needs to be guaranteed, while more internships needs to be created so that people can gain the work experience they need to get a job.
Other plans include:
* Change labour laws, which means making it easier for businesses to hire people, while still protecting the rights of workers. Therefore less paperwork equals more jobs.
* Reward businesses that create jobs.
* Create a nation of entrepreneurs.
Patterson said the government should make it easier for people to start their own small businesses.
“More small businesses equal more jobs. It is that simple.”
Patterson also emphasised the importance of improving skills.
“In this country the level of education should not be reduced but improved. It is also important that people are hired based on their ability to do the job, not on who they know.”
Crawford also demonstrated how the Ekurhuleni Metro can implement EPWP initiatives to benefit residents fairly and not just the connected few.
“The EPWP focuses on skills development, but is being abused by the government for political gain and currently only benefits the connected few,” said Crawford.
According to him, where the DA governs, EPWP programmes are being used to reduce the levels of poverty and unemployment in the province, by means of:
* Giving unemployed people access to temporary work.
* Helping unemployed people through skills programmes and work experience.
* Ensuring that unemployed people receive an allowance for any work they have completed as part of EPWP.
* Enhancing EPWP participants’ chances of finding jobs or starting their own businesses.
“Such initiatives are also possible in Gauteng,” concluded Crawford.
