Afrika Mayibuye shifts focus to jobs after 80 find work
The movement said it would engage companies across various sectors to encourage them to prioritise hiring people from the communities in which they operate.
The Afrika Mayibuye Movement says it is shifting the focus of its campaign from protests against undocumented foreign nationals to tackling South Africa’s unemployment crisis, announcing that more than 80 unemployed people secured jobs within three days through its newly established workers’ desk.
The organisation, which has been at the forefront of recent marches and demonstrations against illegal immigration across parts of KwaZulu-Natal, said its next phase would prioritise connecting unemployed South Africans with local employers rather than staging further protests.
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Speaking on behalf of the movement, first deputy secretary-general Mzwandile Goge said the Mayibuye Worker’s Desk was established to create practical employment opportunities for local communities by linking job seekers with businesses.
According to the movement, the latest phase of its Siyafesa Campaign resulted in more than 80 unemployed people obtaining employment in just three days.
To expand the initiative, the organisation has compiled a comprehensive database of unemployed job seekers, which it plans to share with factories, restaurants, hotels, petrol stations, retail businesses and other employers looking to recruit workers.
The movement said it would engage companies across various sectors to encourage them to prioritise hiring people from the communities in which they operate.
“The unemployment crisis requires practical action,” said Goge.
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“The Siyafesa Campaign is about opening doors for our people. We believe local companies should work with local communities to create opportunities for local residents.”
“Every available job should first benefit the people who live in the communities where businesses operate.”
Goge said the announcement marks a strategic shift for the movement, which has attracted national attention in recent weeks through demonstrations calling for stronger action against undocumented foreign nationals and demanding that employment opportunities be reserved for South Africans.
The movement insisted that its latest initiative is aimed at providing practical solutions to unemployment by working with employers rather than relying solely on public demonstrations.
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Goge said the unemployed database would help businesses identify local candidates quickly while giving unemployed residents fair access to available vacancies.
The Afrika Mayibuye Movement reaffirmed its commitment to advocating for employment opportunities, protecting workers’ rights and ensuring unemployed South Africans have fair access to jobs, saying economic empowerment would remain at the centre of its campaign going forward.
