The Department of Employment and Labour (DEL), through its entity, the Unemployment Insurance Fund (UIF), will provide integrated onsite services to approximately 3,000 workers affected by the retrenchment at the eThekwini Municipality.

The intervention follows the termination of contracts for workers employed under the Public Employment Programme (PEP), a government-funded initiative aimed at creating employment opportunities and equipping unemployed youth with valuable skills.

All affected employees who contributed to the UIF are eligible to apply for unemployment benefits. To ensure ease of access and minimise pressure on labour centres across the province, the Department has partnered with the eThekwini Municipality to provide onsite services through a dedicated outreach programme. Through this initiative, all 3,000 affected employees will have their UIF applications processed onsite at the Moses Mabhida Auditorium.

This coordinated intervention provides a structured and efficient approach to managing the application process, ensuring that all eligible employees can submit and process their claims accurately and without unnecessary delays.

In addition, the campaign will include services from the Public Employment Services (PES), a branch of the Department of Employment and Labour. Officials will be available onsite to register CVs of the retrenched workers on the Employment Services of South Africa (ESSA) database, helping them access future employment opportunities.

Details of the campaign are as follows:

Date: 25-29 May 2026
Venue: Moses Mabhida Auditorium (44 Isaiah Ntshangase Rd, Stamford Hill, Durban, 4023)
Time: 08:00-16:00

For media RSVP's, kindly contact: Nhlanhla Khumalo at Nhlanhla.Khumalo@labour.gov.za  /066 488 0265.

For media inquiries, please contact:

Teboho Thejane

Departmental Spokesperson

082 697 0694/ teboho.thejane@labour.gov.za

                                                                -ENDS-

Issued by: Department of Employment and Labour

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