Tensions were high when the eThekwini municipality could not provide an update for the unemployed graduates who again today took to the streets against unemployment in KZN.
Outside the city hall, the group of about 60 graduates who have not gotten employed since graduating from different institutions in KZN were met by Thami Mdluli who was representing the Mayor of eThekwini, Zandile Gumede.
Mdluli asked the graduates for a memorandum which led to some unrest as the graduates had already submitted a memorandum during the first protest in the first week of this month (3 July).
Mdluli tried to explain that he had not been the one who received the first memorandum and was unaware of what the graduates’ needs were.
“I was not the one who took the first memorandum from you so I am not aware of what you need, the person that did receive the memorandum is not here at the moment,” said Mdluli.
When asked if he had not been made aware of the memorandum prior to meeting the graduates he said he had not seen it.
Nkululeko Ndlovu the MUT graduate leading the peaceful protests said the graduates were unsatisfied with the lack of progress since their last protest and to make matters worse no one from the municipality was communicating with them.
“We are not being taken seriously, we are trying to be civilized but they’re making us clowns, how can they send someone out to address us when he knows nothing about the situation?” asked Ndlovu.
He added that the municipality’s actions were just further showing that they do not care about the youth and unemployment.
Ndlovu said until their issues were heard they would not participate in the coming elections next year.
“They have forgotten that they need us to vote for them in order to be our leaders, now they are treating us like this,” said Ndlovu.
Unemployed Graduates from other provinces like the Eastern Cape are said to also have demonstrations in the near future according to Ndlovu.
