Today, 22 August 2025 The Executive Mayor Cllr Sifiso Mngemezulu together with the MMC for Planning and Economic Development Cllr. Sesana Masondo and Ward 6 Councillor, Smanga Ngwenya, convened a feedback session following the impactful Unemployment Dialogue held on the 20th of June 2025. The session aimed to report back on progress made and outline steps towards reducing unemployment and enhancing economic opportunities for the residents of Lekwa.
In his address, Executive Mayor Mngemezulu highlighted the importance of collaboration in tackling unemployment. “We have been in intense discussions with Eskom and today marks a turning point”.
One of the key outcomes discussed was the integration of the Department of Employment and Labour employment database with Eskom’s local recruitment hub. This partnership aims to prioritise job opportunities for local communities.
The Mayor also outlined challenges raised by Eskom regarding the submission of falsified artisan qualifications by some applicants. These misrepresentations have led to high failure rates during assessments tests. This issue has unfortunately disqualified many hopeful candidates.
“In a proactive step forward, the Municipality, Eskom and Gert Sibande TVET College Skills Academy have reached an agreement and a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) has been developed, currently awaiting formal approval.
“The MOU will enable students from Gert Sibande Tvet College to undergo experiential learning placements at Eskom.
“This initiative will bridge the gap between education and employment by ensuring our learners gain work experience necessary to qualify for technical jobs,”
Another exciting development revealed during the session is the commitment by various companies subcontracted under Eskom to open approximately 1 400 job opportunities for Lekwa residents.
Cllr Mngemezulu concluded: “We thank Eskom for hearing our cries, as we are starting on a clean slate. This marks the beginning of a brighter future for the people of Lekwa.”