The Economic Freedom Fighters (EFF) in Gauteng have called for the appointment of an independent body to monitor the human resource processes for the Gauteng government jobs. This is after Gauteng Premier Panyaza Lesufi recently launched the "Nasi Ispani," a job fair campaign that aims to reduce youth unemployment in the province. They red berets accuses the ANC of using this as an opportunity to campaign for the upcoming 2024 elections.

JOBS HAVE BEEN VACANT FOR YEARS

In a statement, the EFF Gauteng spokesperson Dumisani Baleni said that the 8 000 jobs that have recently been advertised have nothing to do with the ANC."These vacancies are funded and exist across different provincial departments. The EFF has long been calling for this to take place, as these vacancies have been existing and have accumulated for many years. However, the ANC is now using this opportunity for their political electioneering campaigns," Baleni said. 

RECRUITMENT PROCESSES DENTED

The EFF also said Lesufi has dented the recruitment process by advertising the job vacancies as ANC programs."Lesufi has muddied the recruitment process, brought confusion, and blurred the dividing line between government and party functions. In the end, it will be the jobless people of Gauteng who will lose. This is clear desperation from the ruling party since the 2024 election is drawing closer," the red berets said. EFF claims that the Crime prevention wardens and public works jobs were only given to ANC card-carrying holders and the rest of the unemployed people in the province were sidelined. "The EFF is committed to enforcing accountability, openness, and fairness in the process of filling these vacancies. We will ensure that all those who qualify there or not members of the ANC are given a fair chance to get the jobs,"

HUNDREDS QUE TO APPLY FOR JOBS

On Youth Day, hundreds of jobseekers started standing in lines as early as 4 am at 32 different provincial sites set up by the Gauteng government to be helped with job applications. The sites offered free Wi-Fi and computers as many have struggled to apply using their own devices. Lesufi said the Gauteng government will pump the economy to create massive opportunities for the people and not handouts. �"Thank you so much for the amazing support. Our teams are hard at work to push the Qs! A better Gauteng is rising,” he said. The applications are open until 17 July 2023.