Jozi@Work, the City of Johannesburg’s R3-billion mass empowerment and job-creation programme, on recently offered a further R120 000 in work packages to Soweto’s small businesses and co-operatives – bringing to more than R660 000 the total value of work packages put on the table in the township this week alone.

JOSHCO, the City’s social housing company,recently announced three work packages valued at a total of R540 000 for greening and gardening projects in and around the Kliptown area, including the Pimville Golf Course.

JOSCHO returned to Soweto to offer two packages that include the mowing and edging of lawns, weed control and watering of gardens – one in Jabulani and the other in Orlando West.

The two work packages, valued at R60 000 each, are for the whole year, commencing on 1 January 2016.

The programme, an initiative of Johannesburg Executive Mayor, Councillor Parks Tau, is aimed at tackling unemployment, poverty and inequality by giving township businesses and co-operatives the opportunity to provide the City with services such as street cleaning, refuse removal, grass-cutting, and building maintenance and repairs, to mention a few.

The programme’s budget has leapt from R1.1-billion in the 2014-2015 financial year to R3-billion in the current financial year.

Zanele Molete, the Deputy Director of Citizens Relationship and Urban Management (CRUM) in Region D, allayed concerns that only co-operatives were allowed to submit proposals for the contracts.

She explained that all the entities registered under the Jozi@Work Programme were eligible to apply.

–Joburg.org.za