​Staff Writer 
Gauteng Premier Panyaza Lesufi has provided an update on the Nasi Ispani Mass Recruitment Programme, shedding light on the progress made in addressing unemployment within designated groups in the province. In a media statement issued on Thursday, the premier detailed the remarkable response to the recruitment drive and the steps taken by various government departments to fill vacant positions.
Launched in June 2023 by the Gauteng Provincial Government, the recruitment drive aimed to reduce unemployment among designated groups while improving public service delivery. 
It saw thousands of funded vacancies advertised within government departments and entities across the province. 
The response was overwhelming, with a staggering 1.62 million applications received, a testament to the severity of the unemployment issue.
In the statement, Lesufi announced that the Department of Health received the highest number of applications, with 52651 thousand candidates applying for positions. 
The Department of Community Safety followed closely with 218.39 thousand applicants, and the Department of Education received 20648 thousand applications. 
"Most of the applicants (56.13%) were females, 43.87% were males and 0.01% of the applicants did not disclose their gender. As expected, the biggest number of applicants were Africans who accounted for 1.6 million (98.76%) applications," said Lesufi. 
Premier Lesufi acknowledged the massive response and expressed his commitment to keeping the promises made to the people of Gauteng. 
"Because a promise we make is a promise we keep," he declared. 
He announced that on Saturday, November 4, an additional 6 436 job opportunities would be unveiled. 
"These opportunities include 2500 Early Childhood Development (ECD) practitioners, 800 building inspectors, 1000 civic education ambassadors, and 2136 crime prevention wardens. These positions will be offered to candidates from the unemployment database created for unsuccessful applicants."
The Premier then went on to provide a department-wise update on the recruitment process:
 
Department of Infrastructure Development:
Number of vacancies advertised: 50
Number of vacancies shortlisted (Aug-Sept): 44
Number of vacancies interviewed (Aug-Sept): 44
Number of offers made (Oct): 42
Number of candidates onboarded to date: 13

Department of Economic Development:
Number of vacancies advertised: 17
Number of vacancies shortlisted (Aug-Oct): 13
Number of vacancies interviewed (Aug-Oct): 8
Number of offers made (Sept-Oct): 6
Number of candidates onboarded to date: 2

Department of Roads and Transport:
Number of vacancies advertised: 82
Number of vacancies shortlisted (Oct): 53
Number of vacancies interviewed (Oct): 25
Offers to be made to successful candidates in November
Successful candidates to be onboarded in December

 

Department of e-Gov:
Number of vacancies advertised: 6
Number of vacancies shortlisted (Aug-Sept): 4
Number of vacancies interviewed (Aug-Sept): 1
Number of offers made (Oct): 1
Number of candidates onboarded to date: 0

Department of Finance:
Number of vacancies advertised: 6
Number of vacancies shortlisted (Aug-Sept): 4
Number of vacancies interviewed (Aug-Sept): 1
Number of offers made (Oct): 1
Number of candidates onboarded to date: 0

Department of Education:
Number of vacancies advertised: 199
Number of vacancies shortlisted (Aug-Sept): 36
Number of vacancies interviewed (Aug-Sept): 26
Number of offers made (Oct): 2
Number of candidates onboarded to date: 0

Department of Human Settlement:
Number of vacancies advertised: 19
Number of vacancies shortlisted (Aug-Sept): 8
The interview process has not yet commenced

Department of Cooperative Government and Traditional Affairs:
Number of vacancies advertised: 3
Number of vacancies shortlisted (Aug-Sept): 2
The interview process has not yet commenced

Office of the Premier:
Number of vacancies advertised: 16
Number of vacancies shortlisted (Aug-Sept): 1
Number of vacancies interviewed (Aug-Sept): 1
Number of offers made (Oct): 1
Number of candidates onboarded to date: 1

Furthermore, the Departments of Social Development, Agriculture, Rural Development, and Environment are scheduled to start the shortlisting process and complete it by November 3, 2023. Interviews for these departments are expected to be concluded by November 25, 2023.