Sobantu residents march over jobs as unemployment anger grows

Frustration over youth unemployment boiled over yesterday morning when about 100 protestors from Sobantu marched to a local company demanding access to jobs. The group picketed outside Central Waste on Ohrtmann Road, accusing some businesses in the area of overlooking local job seekers while employing foreign nationals, often at lower wages. The protest comes amid growing anti-illegal immigration demonstrations in various parts of the country.

At the centre of the protest are young people who say they have invested in education and skills development, but remain excluded from the formal economy. Among them was 26-year-old Sinothando Zondi, a chemical engineering graduate from Amajuba College in Newcastle. Zondi completed her studies in 2022 but has been unable to secure employment in her field.

In an effort to improve her prospects, she later completed a Grade C security training course. However, she said those efforts also failed to lead to employment. “I tried my best but nothing came of my efforts,” said Zondi. I was hoping the security qualification would help me find work to support my mother, but I am still unemployed.