More than 900 jobs is no joke
Mmegi Editor | Friday February 17, 2017 10:02
This is not the first time the nation has been told about vacancies in local authorities, for which number goes into numerous hundreds.
About two years ago, the same ministry announced a bigger number of vacancies in its offices across the country. Obviously, these figures are a fraction of the vacancies at the Directorate of Public Service Management, which goes into several thousands. These figures are shocking especially for the fact that national unemployment rate has surpassed 25%. Mines recently closed business while some companies have relocated.
Thousands of graduates are roaming the streets because there are no jobs for them. On the other hand, their parents, brothers and sisters travel long distances to acquire or pay for services in government offices, where they are sometimes told to come the following day because the substantive officer is on leave or attending a workshop somewhere outside.
Others spend hours in queues waiting to get service, only to be told that ‘system e down’ and that they should wait longer or come the following day. These are the realities that many citizens are subjected to in many government services centres across the country.
And now we are told that there are no jobs, yet there are 900 vacancies. If these vacancies were filled on time, this could have improved the lives of many families, some of whom can testify the true feeling of going to bed with an empty stomach.
This is even irritating if not nauseating for the graduates to learn that there are jobs somewhere in government offices that have not been filled for more than six months. This delay in filling vacancies in government offices could be a confirmation of reports that there are officers who would do anything to secure jobs for their relatives and friends, disregarding the heavy price that the public has to pay for such delays.
In her response to Parliament, assistant minister Botlogile Tshireletso said part of the reason some vacancies had not been filled was that some candidates were reluctant to take up positions in rural areas. We do not know how true that answer is. However, we urge the youth to take up these positions and serve the nation anywhere to gain experience. Lastly, we appeal to those tasked with recruitment to ensure that vacancies are filled within two months after departure of the person who was holding the position.
Today’s thought
“When you are unemployed, weekends are seven days long.”
– Mokokoma Mokhonoana