Civic movement Soil of Africa led about 300 youths from Mamelodi, Eersterust and Nellmapius in a march to the N4 Gateway Industrial Park situated in Silverton, Tshwane on Monday morning to demand jobs there.
The marching youths openly held their CVs in their hands before finally handing them to N4 Gateway Industrial Park chief Director Peter Johnson.
A memorandum of grievances, which had been drafted on their behalf by Soil of Africa chairperson Bongani Ramontja was also handed to Johnson.
“We are proceeding with the Sizosebenza Ngenkani campaign and today we are here at the N4 Gateway Industrial Park to demand job opportunities for our people and the youth of Mamelodi, Nellmapius, Eesrterust as well as those living at Plot 61,” said an elated Ramontja after engaging the management of the N4 Gateway Industrial Park in negotiations.
“The management has responded positively because they have already employed 15 of the youths who were marching with us here today with immediate effect and they have promised to engage us further in a round table discussion so that they can determine as to how they can employ more people,” he said.
Ramontja pointed out that they were not done as yet with their campaign at the N4 Gateway Industrial Park and that they had given other project owners there 72 hours to respond to their demands for jobs, failing which they as Soil of Africa will resort to picketing there every day until their concerns are listened to.
N4 Gateway Industrial Park Chief Director Peter Johnson expressed satisfaction that Soil of Africa and the marching youths behaved themselves in a dignified manner during the march and that he had a good chat with Soil of Africa leaders who understood the point of view of the project/ company owners and promised not interrupt the projects’ activities.
“We are going to sign a memorandum of agreement together with Soil of Africa and at the moment I can’t make any promises as I still have to present this matter to the board of Directors of the N4 Gateway Industrial Park in the next two or three weeks and see where we can help,” he said.
Johnson revealed that at the moment N4 Gateway Industrial Park’s first responsibility lies with the community of Nellmapius whereby they work with the NCID there and that after consulting the NCID they will revert to Soil of Africa with the purpose of having a meeting with these two stakeholder organisations.
Johnson revealed that all in all there are 140 companies operating at the N4 Gateway Industrial Park and that there are no illegal foreigners, and that 4% of the workers there are foreigners who have proper documents and permits to work at the N4 Gateway Industrial Park.
“We as N4 Gateway Industrial Park Directors have in the past helped the neighbouring community of Nellmapius quite a lot in terms of job opportunities and the shops and structures at the N4 Gateway Industrial Park were built after enlisting the labour of the Nellmapius residents” he said.
Johnson said every morning job-seeking members of the Nellmapius community are allowed to stand in front of the security gate of the industrial site with their IDs so that in the event of any of the companies being in need of labour they will first check with those community members as per agreement.
“These companies are well-established already so it’s difficult to find new jobs every now and then but if somebody leaves their jobs then we always employ locals to fill such positions,” said Johnson.
“Joblessness is a big concern to all South Africans and we understand why people from Mamelodi have come looking for jobs here at the N4 Gateway Industrial Park, but be that as it may, our responsibility is to first provide jobs to our immediate neighbours, who are residents of Nellmapius,” he explained.
“I believe I will find a job and I believe Soil of Africa is our last hope,” Thabo Ngobeni said.
“I been unemployed for 10 years and been hunting for a job but will luck I couldn’t find it and now I believe Soil of Africa civic movements was sent by God to help us the youth,” Sharon Mahlangu said.
Copy of Memorandum: