Unemployment continues to bite in Selebi-Phikwe

CALISTUS KOLANTSHO
Correspondent | Monday May 9, 2011 00:00

Speaking to The Monitor last week, a graduate from Helderburg College in Cape Town, South Africa, Thebe Pelotshweu explained that he has been searching for a job in the town since 2007. He said there are many graduates from the University of Botswana and other training institutions roaming the streets of Selebi-Phikwe because they have done courses that are not marketable in the area.

He said most of his colleagues have done courses that are not relevant to the mining industry because BCL Mine is the biggest employer in the town. 'As youth, we want to develop this town but if we come up with good ideas we are not able to get funding. They expect us to come up with ideas in the agricultural sector which is not our interest. The government has sponsored us for tertiary education but now we have been left in the dark. We really do not understand how these things operate,' said the disappointed Pelotshweu.

He added that it is difficult for them to be placed on attachment in government departments because there are no vacancies. He complained that even the P640 million that the region was given by the European Union (EU) will not benefit them.

Senyegane Radipotsane said he came to the town with hope that finding employment will not be a headache. He explained that people who are in the Ipelegeng Programme are far better off because they get something at month end. He said that he has done NCC at the local technical college and he hopes for better things when it shuts down next month. 'Normally shutdowns bring jobs and inject money into the economy of the town. I hope that locals will enjoy during that period. I can only urge companies that will be taking part in the exercise to also give us work because we have the skills,' he said.

Another job seeker, Boitumelo Moilwa said unemployment in the area cannot be reduced unless the diversification unit - SPEDU - improves its performance. She said the unit has done studies in the region but the recommendations have not been implemented. Moilwa said one of the findings from the studies indicated that waste products from the mine can be used to produce fertiliser. She stated that if a firm is established to exploit the opportunity, jobs will be created for many people. She said unemployment has been fuelled by the closure of textile firms in the town a few years back.