This past week, Alderman James Vos, the Mayoral Committee Member for Economic Growth, visited the SEED Rocklands Abundance Centre in Mitchells Plain to meet with local youth participating in a Mixed Farming Systems learnership. The 15 unemployed young people were recruited for the programme via Jobs Connect, the City’s workforce development initiative.
Under the project, the learners are taught how to grow plants, flowers, and vegetables which are then used to support local feeding schemes, while the plants and flowers are used in the manufacture of hair products, washing powder, soaps and more. Ultimately, the group are given the skills to start and run their own agri-businesses.
‘Opening the doors to such opportunities for Capetonians who need it most is exactly why my team and I conceptualised Jobs Connect. The digital platform eliminates much of the stress of looking for work which research shows can cost up to R1 500 per month by offering a streamlined, user-friendly, and cost-effective online system,’ said Alderman Vos.
Recently, Jobs Connect, which is managed by Leelyn Management, collaborated with Smile FM in securing 12 914 job opportunities for Capetonians in just a few weeks before Christmas 2023. This was well above the campaign’s target of 10 000 jobs.
‘I’m thrilled that the City’s initiative could be used for such a valuable and impactful campaign. On top of that, the bulk of the jobs created 9 147 are in call centres across the metro and came via CapeBPO, the City’s Special Purpose Vehicle in the industry. This highlights the City’s active role in creating sector-specific employment opportunities,’ said Alderman Vos.
Jobs Connect, launched in 2021 by the City, is data-free for MTN and Vodacom users and allows users to create an online profile that serves as their digital CV. Thereafter they complete a digital numeracy and literacy assessment. Both the CV and the assessment certificates are downloadable.
Once registered and assessed, people can go through the platform to see what training and learnership opportunities are available. Job-seekers are also able to drill down to opportunities by area. Individuals who are selected for an interview are then automatically notified by Jobs Connect via SMS or Whatsapp.
‘My mission is to make the jobs queue shorter and through our projects, programmes and partnerships, we are doing just that. Through dedicated projects, mechanisms such as the Jobs Connect programme, and strategic partnerships, we are making headway in addressing unemployment in Cape Town. I am grateful for the impact and positive change we’re creating together,’ said Alderman Vos.
To get onto Jobs Connect, work-seekers need to register their details on the website, https://jobsconnect.leelyn.co.za/, and complete a literacy and numeracy assessment.
For business owners looking for talent, they can also register as an employer by contacting Leelyn Management at info@leelyn.co.za or phone 021 558 1552.
