Johannesburg City Chair of Chairpersons, councillor Alex Christians has called on Joburg residents to make use of the city’s opportunities centres.

Christians was on an oversight visit to check up on the progress made at the number of opportunity centres across the city since their establishment in Diepsloot and Ivory Park.

“One of the greatest concerns is that the immediate communities where these centres are built should know about them and what services they can give to many desperate unemployed and unskilled youths. These centres must be fully used to avoid them from becoming white elephants,” he said.

Christians was accompanied by the Speaker of Council Vasco da Gama and the chairpersons of various Section 79 committees to the opportunity centres and also interacted with residents.

The first centre that was visited was Tlhabologo Opportunity Centre in Diepsloot Ext 2. Other centres scheduled to be visited in the coming weeks include Roodepoort Civic Centre, a centre at Central Joburg and the Orange Farm Skills Centre.

Da Gama has urged small business-owners in the area to visit the centre to get help with growing their businesses.

Department of Economic Development’s deputy director, Simphiwe Malimela, said the centres offer a basket of services. In the 2018/2019 financial year, about 879 small businesses were assisted at the Tlhabologo Opportunity Centre.

“Our training offerings include business management, supply chain management, marketing strategy development and business idea generation. Over and above that, we have the job seekers database,” said Malimela.

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