19 Aug 2020

Droves of unemployed young people on August 17 thronged the Batawana main kgotla in search of jobs, as the company engaged to undertake the long-awaited Maun water supply and sanitation Phase II project started recruitment.

The first phase of the project has been awarded to Chinese contractor Zhengtai Group at a cost of P1.8 billion for works comprising; the design, supply and building of water distribution network, sanitation reticulation telemetry and associated works.

The company requested to use the main kgotla for recruitment to comply with the COVID-19 protocols. It was reported that the company would create employment opportunities for 500 locals. It recruited qualified candidates such as operators, plumbers, carpenters, bricklayers, and heavy duty drivers among others.

The company had long promised the district leadership that locals would be given first priority in recruitment.

In an interview, some young people explained that they learnt about the recruitment through social media and arrived at the main kgotla in the early hours of the morning.

The majority of the job seekers were those retrenched from the tourism sector due to the COVID-19 pandemic.

Some expressed concern that the pandemic had exacerbated the unemployment rate in the district, hence they came in large numbers to try their luck.

One of the job seekers, Ms Esther Ndara indicated that life was unbearable due to the COVID-19 pandemic, stating that since she lost her job in one of the safari companies, she had been struggling to make ends meet.She appreciated the positive impact that the COVID-19 wage subsidy made, lamenting, however, that since it stopped, they had no other means of survival. Another youth, Mr Otukile Goitsemodimo, an electrician by profession, concurred that they were feeling the pinch of the pandemic.

He admitted that the unemployment rate had escalated since the pandemic started, as the tourism sector, which was the main employer in the district, was the hardest hit.

He said he depended on piece jobs and came to the kgotla to try his luck to be recruited under general workers.  He was disappointed to learn that the company had specific areas of recruitment, adding that they had been informed that candidates for general work would be hired at a later stage.

The area councillor for Boseja ward, where the company’s offices are situated, Mr Itumeleng Kelebetseng appreciated that the company established a good working relationship with the leadership as it engaged them on developments undertaken, including recruitment.

He also acknowledged that the issue of unemployment in the district was worrisome and hailed the company for giving locals priority.

 “It is disturbing to see over 3 000 young people gathered at the kgotla seeking jobs despite the fact that the company had indicated that it would employ only 500 locals,” he said. Most of the job seekers, he said, were graduates, those who lost their jobs from the tourism sector and those who were not absorbed in tertiary institutions.

In an advert dated August 11, the company’s public relations officer, Mr Kopo Mononi indicated that they experienced high numbers of people looking for employment on site.

The project, he said, was taking off slowly because they were taking COVID-19 protocols into consideration.

He said they employed the number needed for now, while the rest would be put on a waiting list and be contacted when needed.

Meanwhile, in a recent meeting with the District Development Committee, Mr Mononi confirmed that the project would create 500 employment opportunities for skilled and unskilled labour and priority would be given to the locals.

He also pointed out that the project would not only create employment, but also open business opportunities for residents. ENDS