As part of Government’s broader economic recovery agenda, the Presidential Employment Stimulus utilises direct public investment to support employment opportunities, counteracting job losses due to Covid-19, and creating an opportunity for growth and renewal.
A Social Employment Fund was established as part of the social economy strategy of the Department of Trade, Industry and Competition. The fund is being managed by the Industrial Development Corporation. It supports NGO’s/NPCs to create work that serves the common good in communities.
The eight focus areas of the SEF are:
As the Strategic Implementing Partner (SIP) the JICP (through JICSEP) is working with 10 organisations on the ground to deliver projects that will give work opportunities to 1177 participants aimed at
- Improving community wellbeing through the creation of clean and safe spaces, including the cleaning of streets and public spaces, public safety and security, public space activation and placemaking.
- Improving life skills via increased access to sports, arts, literature and culture
- Improving support to vulnerable individuals, such as the homeless, orphans, etc.
- Environmental conservation and food security, specifically in relation to the rehabilitation of the Jukskei river, including the restoration of biodiversity and the return of functioning eco-systems, urban farming and nutritional programmes
- Increasing Inner City tourism opportunities
Our partners in Round 3 are; - Boundless City
Public space safety, cleaning and activation as well as community resources for school children at Anstey’s library after-school homework program & Ernest Oppenheimer Park - Clean City SA
Street cleaning and behaviour change towards litter, protect the environment from waste pollution and fight hunger in communities. Clean City SA subscribes to the UN Sustainable Development Goals. - Constitution Hill
Community upliftment through a focus on human rights, democracy and reconciliation. Participants will focus on maintenance, cleaning and beautification of the Constitution Hill precinct and surrounding Health precinct. - Dlala Nje
Dlala Nje was founded in October 2012 with the aim to challenge perceptions and to create opportunities in Hillbrow through tourism and community development. - Literary District
Celebrating Joburg’s book culture, improve experience and perception of the city by creating a literary district in a walkable swath of downtown Johannesburg, to highlight the city’s reading culture, past and present. - Makers Valley Partnership
Wellbeing economy community facilitation through social and creative enterprise development. #PARTOFMORE is an initiative of the Makers Valley Partnership that aims to enable, connect, and support the many changemaking organisations (Non-profits and/or Social Enterprises) that exist in the Makers Valley local area with the main outcome of uniting towards a common vision and creating a collective impact. - MES
IT and office admin, daycare and soup kitchen, cleaning the streets of Hillbrow and adding to the capacity of the MES Adherence Club. - Sport for Social Change Network
SSCN aims to create opportunities for sports as an agent for change and development for the youth. - Urban Space Management
Urban Management through safety and cleaning initiatives, urban technology, placemaking and social outreach. - Water for the Future
Environmental remediation along the banks of the upper Jukskei River.
Partners in Round 1 and 2 who elected not to continue into Round 3: - Johannesburg Homelessness Network
Three food gardens across Johannesburg in Randburg, Rosebank and Braamfontein, established and maintained by homeless people. - Downtown Music Hub
Music in Schools Programme; recruiting musicians to teach music across schools.
Through training and skills development our SEF participants have designed and made products they sell to the public. See their product brochure HERE.
Success Stories: - Working in the Lit District, Someleze Xakekile saved money from his SEF income to buy a second-hand sewing machine. He found a business partner in the Fashion District, and they’ve started a streetwear brand. He sells custom orders through Instagram @kidd_reason_mokwana. His next goal is to open a clothing boutique.
- Starting her journey with SEF at Con Hill, Sweetness Mazibuko joined SEF as a Team Leader where she was able to save up for her learners license. In Round 2 when Con Hill decided not to continue with SEF, Sweetness was hired as a part-time admin assistant with the JICP. During this time she started her own small business making and selling breakfast hampers.
Social Employment Fund in the press
