The City of Cape Town’s Water and Sanitation Directorate wants to encourage people from across the city to register on the Expanded Public Works Programme (EPWP) jobseekers database as it strives to reach its target of recruiting 2 000 janitors before the end of the 2022/23 financial year.  To date, nearly 1 000 applicants have already been selected from the database for these short-term job opportunities as janitors. 

Applicants will be recruited to perform janitorial functions in the area or the informal settlement in which they live.

‘The City of Cape Town was the first to establish janitorial teams for informal settlements to clean the toilets. Over the past eight years, the City has created 17 000 work opportunities through the janitorial service for the cleaning and servicing of all the toilets.

‘This week, 70 full flush toilets will be handed over to the Sesikona informal settlement in Philippi East where janitors will be employed from the City’s EPWP jobseekers database.

‘A janitorial service helps to keep toilets clean which is essential to the well-being and health of residents who use the toilets.  They also report any issues with the toilets such as blockages and vandalism so they can be attended to.

‘Residents can support these efforts and help the City take care of the toilets to ensure they remain in working order. This can be done by reporting vandalism or blockages of the toilets as well as only disposing of toilet paper and tissues in the toilets. Generally, the majority of blockages are caused by the misuse of the sewer system, especially when items such as rags, newspapers, condoms and feminine hygiene products are disposed into the system.

‘I want to encourage applicants to register on the jobseekers database to be considered for various short-term employment vacancies including these janitorial positions as this is a meaningful job opportunity,’ said the City’s Acting Mayoral Committee Member for Water and Sanitation, Councillor Siseko Mbandezi.

Once employed, janitors are provided with essential resources such as the standard Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) uniform, T-shirts, boots, gloves, masks and hand sanitiser for germ control and as well as tools to efficiently conduct their work.

How to register

Jobseekers are required to register on the City’s EPWP jobseekers database at their local Subcouncil which makes them eligible for available short-term job opportunities in that area.  EPWP opportunities are allocated on a randomised basis.

‘Janitorial staff will be employed on a six-month contractual basis. This is to provide equal job opportunities to as many unemployed residents as possible.  The jobseekers database does not only recruit posts for janitorial services but various short-term job opportunities that are available,’ said Mayoral Committee Member for Urban Waste Management, Alderman Grant Twigg.

What to know about EPWP registration:

Visit your local Subcouncil to register your name with the Jobseekers Database. Please bring a copy of your CV, your ID document or a valid South African work permit.

It is free. The City will not ask community members to pay for work opportunities or pay to apply for a work opportunity.

Source: City of Cape Town