The City of Johannesburg has received 35A??000 applications after it announced that it would be in-sourcing 4A??000 security personnel. This was revealed on Monday by Johannesburg mayor Herman MashabaA?? who said this was a clear reflection of the desperate high levels of unemployment faced by residents.

Years of government failure and neglect have left our residents with few prospects for job opportunities and the hopes of being able to provide for their families.Given the desperate need for employmentA?? it is crucial that we fill these 4A??000 positions. More soA?? that the City continues to do all it can to create an enabling environment for the creation of economic opportunities. Mashaba said the city had taken steps to ensure that only qualifying security personnel benefited from this move by the city.

On averageA?? the city paid R14A??000 per security guard to security contractorsA?? while the guards themselves received a salary of only R4A??100 per month.Our approach was to then find a means of offering these contract workers the dignity of fair payA?? stable employment and benefits available to employees of the cityA?? while maintaining the citys continued financial stability.

As workers across South Africa prepare to commemorate workers day tomorrow (Tuesday)A?? the fight for the creation of job opportunities across Johannesburg and fair working conditions for all our employees cannot be underestimatedA?? Mashaba said.