The Western Cape (WC) government’s “Getting YOU to Work” initiative has proved successful in boosting employment in the nation’s third-most populous province.
Launched a year ago in February 2024, the programme offers jobseekers free travel to interviews using the province’s Golden Arrow Bus Services.
The provincial government partnered with local businesses to provide free transport vouchers to South African citizens who were looking for work.
The only two requirements to be eligible for such a voucher are that individuals must have a valid South African ID and a scheduled interview with one of the businesses that are participating in the initiative.
In his latest State of the Province Address on 26 February 2025, WC Premier Alan Winde revealed that the “Getting YOU to Work” scheme has greatly benefitted the province’s unemployed residents.
He said over 150 employers partnered with the WC authorities in the past year to issue vouchers to jobseekers, and more than 2,300 people have registered for these vouchers.
Furthermore, roughly 50% of surveyed voucher users have found employment, and over 90% report that the programme has been beneficial to them.
“Our ‘Getting YOU to Work’ initiative – or the Jobseekers Travel Voucher programme – is working to unlock the barriers to jobseekers to get to their job interviews,” said Winde.
The programme was instrumental in the WC achieving South Africa’s highest Absorption Rate at 55.2%, meaning more people looking for work are successfully finding jobs.
The province also boasts the country’s highest Labour Force Participation Rate at 68.7%, showing its growing ability to absorb new jobseekers.
“These are not just numbers. They represent real people—residents who are now part of our economy, earning an income, and securing a future for themselves and their families,” said Winde.
“This is the story of a province that is stepping up.”
Go George, Go!
In December 2024, the WC celebrated 10 years of the Go George bus service.
Started in 2014 with just 12 buses and three routes, the vital transport lifeline has since grown to 133 buses servicing 33 routes over more than 460 kilometres.
“Thousands of George residents rely on this service, linking them daily to economic opportunities,” said Winde.
In October 2024, the WC launched the newest Go George bus service linking Thembalethu to the George Industrial Area.
“This represents significant progress, bringing additional services to the community of Thembalethu, which has embraced the service, with daily weekday passenger trips nearing 21,000,” said Winde.
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