East London - Unemployed residents of Mdantsane outside East London will be considered for employment first when the fourth phase of the upgrade of one of the Eastern Cape's largest hospitals begins.
Coega Development Corporation employment relations co-ordinator, Vuyani Nombembe, said the CDC this week ran the first of a series of consultations with residents to explain how they will be able to benefit from the upgrade project at Cecilia Makhiwane hospital.
"Everyone from Mdantsane is going to benefit from the project, either directly or indirectly. Job preference will be given to all people living in Mdantsane," said Nombembe.
The consultations by Nombembe and a team of Coega agents at community halls in NU3, NU9 and NU10, form part of a commitment made by Eastern Cape health MEC Sicelo Gqobana three weeks ago to give preference to local work seekers.
"Our main goal is to serve the people and create jobs, especially for local people and unemployed university graduates," said Gqobana at the time.
Nombembe said Coega was looking specifically for workers with experience in concrete work, bricklaying, carpentry, electrical and mechanical installation, scaffold operation and health and safety, as well as general construction workers.
He said the project, which will cost in the region of R1 billion and take 42 months to complete, is expected to create 1100 temporary jobs.
NU9 shack dweller and unemployed mother of three, Nomaswazi Ntsaluba, 43, said she hopes that she will be one of those hired.
"It is good to know that the government is looking out for the people of Mdantsane and I am happy that they are considering us over outsiders. I really need the work, because the child support grant I receive doesn't go very far," said Ntsaluba.
Nombembe encouraged unemployed people from Mdantsane, especially university and FET college graduates, to complete application forms that will be available from community centres and municipal offices from June 20.
