Dobsonville residents said unemployment remained endemic in the area. A woman who would only identify herself as Anna, said her youngest son was 20 years old and has been unemployed since matriculating two years ago.
“I’ve been working as a street trader for the past three months to support my family. It is really hard as I sell sweets on the side of the road and only make enough money for dinner every day,” she said.
The resident said she didn’t vote in the last election and would only consider voting in the upcoming election if the lack of jobs in the city was addressed.
This reaction came as the Democratic Alliance’s Gauteng candidate for premier, Mmusi Maimane, launched the party’s registration campaign at a polling station near his family home in Dobsonville yesterday, where he first voted in 1999.
“I may not be voting for the same party that I voted for in 1999, but my values remain intact. I still believe we can grow our economy and create enough jobs so that all may prosper,” said Maimane.
He added that about 10 000 supporters were expected to attend the Believe in Change rally this Saturday in Kliptown, where his campaign for premier will be launched.
ANC Youth League national spokesman Bandile Masuku told The Citizen that highlighting job creation and education were priorities in the party’s election campaign.
“We have a number of rallies planned around the country to mobilise the youth, with events planned for Khayelitsha in the Western Cape this weekend. The campaign will include multiple aspects of taking the country forward,” said Masuku.
