Hundreds of youth throng for jobs at China-backed fair
Crowds of unemployed young South Africans — including jobless graduates — thronged the Gallagher Estate in Johannesburg on Tuesday to seek job opportunities at the Chinese government-backed Job Fair 2024.
The job fair is aimed at contributing to lowering the country’s staggering 50,47% youth unemployment figure.
The Chinese embassy in South Africa has helped several locally-based Chinese enterprises interact and offer employment to young job-seekers since 2022, covering diverse areas, including engineering, management, sales, telecommunications, industrial machinery and marketing.
During his state visit to South Africa last August, Chinese President Xi Jinping and President Cyril Ramaphosa reached consensus and signed several official agreements, which included:
• Supporting SA government’s efforts to strengthen vocational education and promoting youth employment; • Providing a larger market for South Africa’s high-quality exports;
• Offering stronger support for South Africa’s industrialisation; and
• Providing better support for South Africa’s innovative development.
Addressing the gathering at the Job Fair 2024, which was also attended by Social Development Minister Lindiwe Zulu and Minister in the Presidency for Planning, Monitoring and Evaluation, Maropene Ramokgopa, Chinese embassy in SA chargé d’affaires Li Zhigang, said the job fair was “an
important measure to implement the consensus reached by our two heads”.
“China is ready to work with South Africa through job fairs to help create jobs and promote development — injecting vitality into the talent recruitment and local development of Chinese-invested enterprises.
“Employment is like a bridge with one end connecting national development, while the other end connecting family wellbeing.
“It is the biggest heart-winning project that benefits ordinary people.
“In 2022, the job fair of Chinese-invested enterprises in South Africa was successfully held here at this hall.
“More than 60 Chinese-invested enterprises interacted with more than 1 000 young South African job-seekers
on-site – generating positive social effects,” said Li, adding that “At present, more than 200 Chinese-invested companies in South Africa have created more than 400 000 local jobs.
“The key to state-to-state relations lies in close bonds between people.
“China’s relationship with South Africa, and Africa as a whole, has a profound foundation of public support.
“South Africa is the earliest African member of the Brics and the G20, and is the dazzling pearl at the southernmost tip of the African continent.
“China is willing to work with South Africa to leverage the advantages of both sides and commit to win-win cooperation to benefit our two countries and peoples.”