Hundreds of young jobseekers were left frustrated, angry and empty-handed after the City of Cape Town’s “A Day of 1 000 Opportunities” event descended into chaos at Athlone Stadium on Thursday. The much-hyped initiative, aimed at connecting unemployed youth to jobs in the contact centre industry, drew a massive crowd, with around 25 000 people pitching up, far exceeding capacity.
Many hopefuls had been queuing from as early as 4am, only to be turned away when gates were closed. A visibly upset Zara Gamieldien said: “I have been here since 4am and got this disappointing service. It is disappointing to say the least.” For Kagiso Monametsi, the day meant wasted money after paying for transport just to be turned away.
Chaos and Confusion
Others described scenes of panic as crowds surged outside the venue. Femeda Ndlovu claimed police fired shots as tensions grew. “We have been standing in the queue for a long time. They closed the gate, and we couldn’t get in. They were also shooting,” Ndlovu said. However, the City dismissed claims that shots were fired, stating that SAPS Public Order Policing deployed a stun grenade to manage the crowd.
The event was hosted by CapeBPO and the City’s special purpose vehicle in a partnership to create a direct path for job-hunting youth into the flourishing contact centre industry. Ahead of the event, mayco member for Economic Growth, James Vos, said: “This isn’t just any other job fair. CapeBPO’s team, together with 12 of the biggest contact centre operators in Cape Town, will be at Athlone Stadium offering practical career guidance, interviews, and an offer to receive training for those who might not get signed up on the day.”
What Went Wrong?
Despite the chaos outside, the City said processes inside the stadium continued in an orderly manner, with officials and companies assisting applicants. However, for many who never made it through the gates, the experience left a bitter taste. Frustrated young people gathered at the gates of Athlone Stadium, facing disappointment as the event reached capacity. Adul Qaadir Naidoo said the City should have planned better. “They must get their house in order. They should have expected this turnout with unemployment so high,” he said.
For those who missed out, the City has urged them to apply online via SAYouth, saying applications will still be considered. The City has also promised to review the event and make improvements for future initiatives.
- 25,000 youth attended the job fair
- Only a limited number of jobs were available
- Crowd control measures were put in place to manage the large crowd
