- Job seekers will now have an easier passage to and from job interviews, thanks to a recently launched initiative by the Western Cape government.
- On Thursday 15 February, Premier Alan Winde and Provincial Minister of Mobility Ricardo Mackenzie officially launched the Western Cape Government’s (WCG) Getting YOU to Work, a pilot initiative offering jobseekers free travel to interviews using Golden Arrow Bus Services (Gabs).
- The project saw officials ride the bus with the first beneficiaries from Athlone to the CBD.
Job seekers will now have an easier passage to and from job interviews, thanks to a recently launched initiative by the Western Cape government.
On Thursday 15 February, Premier Alan Winde and Provincial Minister of Mobility Ricardo Mackenzie officially launched the Western Cape Government’s (WCG) Getting YOU to Work, a pilot initiative offering jobseekers free travel to interviews using Golden Arrow Bus Services (Gabs).
The project saw officials ride the bus with the first beneficiaries from Athlone to the CBD.
The jobseeker transport voucher is being piloted in partnership with the private sector to remove transport barriers and enable access to job opportunities for unemployed jobseekers. The free travel voucher is offered to interview candidates by registered employers. The vouchers can be used on any Gabs bus on weekdays from 08:00 to 16:00.
One of the candidates, Latita Memani, a 20-year-old student from Cape Town, said: “I managed to get to the interview today without spending money and without borrowing money from my parents. All in all, this jobseeker voucher is a very good idea that will help a lot of youth to get employed, become independent, and be successful in life.”
According to the initiative officials, these vouchers are limited to unemployed people with a valid South African ID who have applied for a job and secured an interview with a partner employer. These vouchers are not available to the general public and is offered to the candidate by the partner employers during the recruitment process.
There is also still the opportunity for more employers to join the initiative as partners.
Each job seeker receives only one voucher, valid for 12 trips expiring in March 2025.
At the launch Winde and Mackenzie implored the very first jobseekers to make use of the Getting YOU to Work voucher as they attended an interview in Athlone.
Winde emphasised the importance of this project. “Getting YOU to Work is part of the WCG’s Growth 4 Jobs Strategy,” he said. “We are doing everything we can to grow the economy, create jobs and tackle unemployment, which currently stands at 20%. We have spoken to people who do not have work, so that we understand the challenges they face and where the provincial government can support them.
“This initiative will provide tangible support to the many people who are actively looking for work. I encourage entrepreneurs and businesses to register. By making the travel voucher available to jobseekers, employers can have their pick of the very best candidates that the Western Cape has to offer.”
Mackenzie said: “Unemployed jobseekers simply don’t have money for transport, which makes it a significant struggle to look for work and attend interviews. The free travel voucher that we launched today removes this initial barrier, with 12 free trips included in the voucher, helping jobseekers find the work they so desperately need.”
The number of vouchers available to each employer is limited to ensure there are enough seats for jobseekers on Gabs.
Employers who would like to sign up can register online or visit the website. For information about Gabs routes and how to use the service, contact 0800 65 64 63 (toll free) or visit the Gabs website on www.gabs.co.za
