By Bhekizenzo Zonele
More than 9,000 employment and funding opportunities were made available to job seekers, entrepreneurs and young people at the Gauteng government’s Vul’Amathuba Festival of Opportunities at Constitution Hill in Johannesburg on Tuesday.
Despite inclement weather, thousands of people attended the launch at People’s Park, where they were connected with employers, funding agencies, universities, training providers and organisations supporting small businesses.
The festival, led by the Gauteng Department of Economic Development (GDED) and the Gauteng Department of Agriculture and Rural Development, aims to improve access to employment, enterprise development and skills opportunities.
Gauteng Economic Development MEC Vuyiswa Ramokgopa and her department supported the initiative, which places entrepreneurs and small businesses at the centre of efforts to promote economic growth.
ALSO READ: Mpumalanga has the tourists, but safety and poor conversion are costing the province
According to the South African government, more than 9,000 job and financial opportunities for entrepreneurs were available at the opening.
These opportunities will also remain accessible through the online Vul’Amathuba portal.
GDED deputy director-general for economic planning Bulumko Nelana said the programme was designed to close the gap between people seeking opportunities and organisations offering them.
“The platform provides better visibility between opportunity providers and opportunity seekers,” Nelana said.
He said the campaign had two main objectives: reducing unemployment and improving access to opportunities for micro, small and medium enterprises (MSMEs), employment and skills development.
The festival brings together major companies and organisations, including Microsoft, Samsung, Uber, Takealot, McDonald’s, Tiger Brands, Standard Bank, Absa, Nedbank, Unisa and the University of Johannesburg.
TVET colleges and sector education and training authorities, including FoodBev SETA, BankSETA, merSETA and AgriSETA, are also participating.
The department said its outreach strategy was intended to ensure young people from marginalised communities were not excluded from the opportunities available through the initiative.
A dedicated area at the festival provides information on government MSME support programmes, compliance requirements and platforms aimed at reducing red tape for entrepreneurs.
Nelana said the long-term success of Vul’Amathuba would be measured by whether opportunity seekers ultimately found employment, training or business-support opportunities through the platform.
ALSO READ: ANC calls for probe into unpaid salaries at Zululand municipality
The online portal is intended to keep the opportunities accessible beyond the festival.
The Johannesburg launch aims to connect residents with opportunities in one place, reducing the need to search separately across businesses, organisations and government programmes.
