By Everson Luhanga
- Large groups of jobless young people walked from Tswelopele to Olifantsfontein on Tuesday morning to demand work from local factories.
- Jobless Tembisa residents say their hungry families only eat one meal a day while nearby businesses run without hiring locals.
Hungry young people from Tembisa marched to factories in Olifantsfontein on Tuesday to demand work.
The group walked from Tswelopele early in the morning. They moved from business to business to hand in their applications and ask for jobs.
Many of the marchers said they are struggling to survive. They said some families only manage to eat one meal a day while local factories keep running.
The National Youth Unemployment Movement said more than 60% of people in Tembisa do not have jobs.
Some people in the crowd demanded that companies remove foreign workers and hire local people instead. This shows growing anger in the area over a lack of jobs.
Mlungisi Zondi organised the march under the Labour and Civic Organisation. This group started as the uMkhonto Wesizwe (MK) Party Labour Desk before becoming an organisation linked to the MK Party. It has grown fast and can now gather large groups of people for street marches.
The National Youth Unemployment Movement supported the march but warned the crowd not to hurt foreigners.
The movement said violence is wrong.
“The enemy is not the worker beside you,” the movement said.
The movement blamed a system that leaves young people with nothing while businesses run. It said the government and companies are failing to create chances for local youth to work.
The street march shows rising pressure on businesses as more young people demand fair hiring.
Pictured above: Tembisa youth march from Tswelopele to factories in Olifantsfontein to hand in job applications and demand work.
Image source: Supplied
