Emfuleni's job raffle causes a stir

IN A controversial approach to reduce unemployment, Emfuleni Municipality recently organised a job raffle, which it claims provides equal opportunity. However, this initiative has led to public outcry over issues of fairness and transparency.

- MASABATA MKWANANZI

The selection process was held at the Sebokeng Driving Licence Testing Centre (DLTC), where hundreds of hopeful job seekers lined up in queues so long they resembled an election day, all anxiously waiting to hear if their names would be drawn in the lottery-style selection process. A boy was asked to pick out the lucky names.

The job raffle, intended to fill just 100 general worker positions for residents of Wards 36 and 37, follows the Gauteng Department of Transport’s recent allocation of R138 million to fast-track the long-overdue completion of the Sebokeng Driving Licence Testing Centre (DLTC).

Many residents expressed frustration over the unexpected shift in the application process, explaining that they were originally told to hand in their CVs and qualifications sealed in envelopes at the Sebokeng DLTC.

A resident from Zone 7, speaking on condition of anonymity, was frustrated with how the job raffle was handled.

She explained that when news of the general worker positions broke, she followed every instruction carefully, submitting her CV in a brown envelope along with certified copies of her qualifications, just as required.

“I thought this was finally my chance,” she said, her voice breaking.