Long queue for jobs at Durban July

DURBAN 14-02-2013 People couwing to entre at Grayville for JOBS. Picture: S'bonelo Ngcobo

DURBAN 14-02-2013 People couwing to entre at Grayville for JOBS. Picture: S'bonelo Ngcobo

Published Feb 15, 2013

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Durban - Thousands of jobseekers have been queuing in the scorching sun outside Greyville racecourse this week for 600 positions during the Durban July.

TAB Gold human resources co-ordinator at Greyville, Olivia Abdula said applications for “betting terminal operators” had opened on Monday and were expected to close today.

“So far we have received 2 700 job applications and the number will certainly increase by tomorrow. This has been the longest week for us (staff).”

She said applicants had to have matric with maths or accounting or experience handling cash. Batches of 150 applicants were given a written test and those who passed were interviewed on the spot and if successful hired there and then.

So far 512 of the 600 seasonal posts have been filled, Tab confirmed.

Such was the desperation of unsuccessful applicants that some rejoined the queues in a bid to be retested and had to be told to leave by security.

Among the applicants was Durban University of Technology taxation diploma graduate Sboniso Dlamini, 24, of Clermont, Pinetown, who had been looking for a job since 2011.

He lives with his two siblings and they rely on the meagre salary his mother earns as a domestic servant.

“I will never give up searching, there is a pressing need to rebuild my family. Any job will do, just to get that emotional upliftment until I land a dream job related to my qualification,” said Dlamini.

Samkelisiwe Cele, 24, of Newlands West, said she felt hopeless after failing to complete the test.

“I thought I would be able to change the situation at home and pursue studies in electrical engineering. I have personal needs to look after,” said Cele.

Abdula said she too had started her career with TAB taking bets and said the company had retained about 114 betting terminal operators who had done a good job last year.

Cosatu provincial secretary, Zet Luzipho said the growing trend of young, often well-educated people desperately queueing for modest jobs showed the lack of graduate placement programmes.

“An overly qualified job seeker would apply for jobs much contested by masses because the country lacks structures to place them,” said Luzipho.

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