Jobs Connect opens global pathways and builds future skills for Cape Town residents

Mayoral Committee Member for Economic Growth, Alderman James Vos, says the City of Cape Town’s Jobs Connect platform is expanding opportunities for residents, as the programme reaches two important milestones in international placement and youth skills development. A group of 10 Capetonians recruited and trained through the platform arrived in Germany to start their bus driver jobs, and a group of 50 learners received guidance on pursuing careers in the Information and Communication Technology industry.  Read more below:

The bus drivers are beneficiaries of Jobs Connect’s first international recruitment drive and saw selected candidates receive thorough training and assessments.

‘Creating employment pathways for Capetonians on the international stage is an exciting new development for Jobs Connect. I also want to thank officials in the German Consulate for their support with work visas and relocation logistics. The platform is now advertising further opportunities for individuals in other fields who are willing to relocate to Germany,’ said Alderman Vos.

Qualified Mechatronics Technicians or Engineers are encouraged to apply for posts based in Germany via this link. Applications close on 1 June 2026.

Currently, 929 positions are advertised on Jobs Connect for Cape Town-based opportunities, spanning various industries and experience levels. Registration, assessment and job applications are free of charge, with the platform also being data cost-free for MTN and Vodacom users. Candidates selected for interviews are automatically notified via SMS or WhatsApp.

‘From the outset, Jobs Connect was about showing that innovation in government doesn’t have to be complicated, it can be simple and impactful when you clearly identify a problem and design a solution that directly addresses it. In this case, that meant reducing the barriers to employment while helping residents access real opportunities. Since it went live in early 2021, 170 000 people have accessed Jobs Connect and used it to build their employment profiles. I’ve had the fortune of joining the team at activations and helping first-time job-seekers to navigate the system, which includes in-depth numeracy and literacy assessments and detailed guidance on developing CVs that they use for work applications on Jobs Connect and other platforms. I’m encouraged by the results we’ve seen so far, but we know there is still more to do. We will keep building on this momentum because the programme is making a tangible difference,’ said Alderman Vos.

Between July 2023 and April 2026, 12 914 people secured employment (including 432 graduates and 388 people with disabilities) and 2 376 accessed education opportunities.

‘The reality is that, in South Africa, job-hunting is expensive. A 2023 survey from Youth Capital found that respondents spent an average of almost R1 500 on transport, data and applications. Jobs Connect helps reduce that burden through a streamlined, user-friendly and cost-effective system,’ said Alderman Vos.

This past week, Alderman Vos also participated in the International Girls in ICT Day event hosted by the Jobs Connect team together with tech skills development organisations, Go Fourth International, Cisco Networking Academy, and the I-CAN Centre. The event engaged Grade 11 and 12 learners from Elsies River High School, focusing on ICT career pathways and mindset development.

‘It was encouraging to see young learners building their awareness and readiness for a rapidly evolving industry. If we are serious about building an inclusive and future-ready economy, we must ensure that young people, regardless of their background, have access to the right tools and information. Through initiatives like Jobs Connect, we are turning interest into opportunity,’ said Alderman Vos.

How to get started on Jobs Connect

To get onto Jobs Connect, work-seekers need to register their details on the website, https://jobsconnect.leelyn.co.za/ and complete a literacy and numeracy assessment.

Business owners looking for talent can also register as an employer by contacting Leelyn Management at in**@*******co.za or phone 021 558 1552.