The City’s Mayoral Committee Member for Economic Growth, Alderman James Vos, has spent time engaging with businesses that have benefited from Jobs Connect, gaining insights into how the programme is helping them find the right skills to grow and succeed. Jobs Connect, Cape Town’s leading workforce development programme, continues to be a game-changer – not only for job seekers, but also for the city’s small, medium and micro-enterprises (SMMEs).
SMMEs are critical to South Africa’s economy, accounting for 80% of the workforce and generating over R5 trillion in turnover, according to the recent FinScopeMSME SA 2024 Survey.
‘For Cape Town’s SMMEs, finding the right skills is essential for growth. With Jobs Connect, I’m proud that we can bridge the gap between work-seekers and businesses who need the right talent to succeed,’ said Alderman Vos.
Optix, a Woodstock-based fleet logistics company with 400 employees, is a standout example of how the programme is helping local businesses. Within two months of posting their requirements on Jobs Connect, Optix received over 1 600 applications, shortlisted 100 and hired more than 30 Cape Town residents.
‘Finding the right staff has always been a challenge for us, but Jobs Connect transformed our recruitment process. They not only simplified the search, but delivered candidates who truly fit our business needs. Their support made staffing smoother and more efficient, allowing us to focus on growth,’ said AJ Prollius, Senior Operations Manager at Optix.
From large companies like Mr Price to smaller enterprises like CTP Cartons & Labels, a manufacturing group in Epping, over 400 businesses that have benefited from Jobs Connect.
‘Jobs Connect has been a game changer! Our contact at Leelyn, the service provider administering the platform, is incredibly helpful and efficient in referring the most suitable applicants,’ said Eugene Van Rensburg, General Manager at CTP Cartons and Labels.
Currently, just under 100 000 Capetonians are registered on Jobs Connect, including new registrations from recent activations in communities like Manenberg.
‘Unemployment is a deep challenge in our communities. For many, the costs of job hunting – up to R1 500 a month – are a significant barrier. Jobs Connect removes many of these obstacles, providing a streamlined, user-friendly and cost-effective platform. I’m grateful to all the Cape Town businesses using Jobs Connect to find local talent and contribute to our shared mission of creating economic opportunity and growth across the city,’ said Alderman Vos.
Job seekers can register at the Jobs Connect website and complete a literacy and numeracy assessment.
Businesses interested in finding talent can register as employers by contacting Leelyn Management at info@leelyn.co.za or calling 021 558 1552.