Mpho usually sleeps at 12:00 and wakes up at 09:00 am. Describing what she does on daily basis, Mpho indicated that she usually wakes up at around 09:00 and:
Prepares breakfast for herself and her younger sister.
Does her housework (usually cleaning and sometimes does washing).
She then spends the rest of the day watching television and listening to radio.
On the question how often she watches television; Mpho said she watches television and also listen to radio everyday the whole day. She said she sometimes-read newspapers if her father brought it at home after work. Mpho was also one of the respondents that I often found at home. I sometimes found her in her nightdress because she said she hated taking a bath, and said she was comfortable because no one sees her anyway. Mpho said she prefers to take a bath later in the day, after lunchtime.
3.3.4 Education, training and job search.
Mpho completed a computer course, and got a Damelin diploma in 1999. She says she has never had any form of employment since 1999. When asked if she still needs more or any particular training, she said “No” and indicated that her parents have already provided her with money to further her education and she does not expect them to offer her anything from now on. All she wants is a good job.
In terms of job-hunting, Mpho said in the past she usually went out on daily basis searching for employment opportunities in areas around Johannesburg, particularly in shopping centers such as Sandton City, East and South-gate.
Although she continues to look for employment, she indicated that she goes out searching for a job, „when ever she sees a suitable advertisement‟. She indicated that she has never been invited for an interview, and most jobs that are usually advertised in the newspapers are not worth taking. According to her, they are usually poorly paying and humiliating to do.
3.3.5 Quality of life and income generating activity/ies.
Although Mpho is very satisfied with her state of health, and is fairly satisfied with the overall life she leads, she is not satisfied with her current unemployed status and her financial situation. She indicated that she needed a job to generate her own income and improve her life.
When asked whether her working family members provide financial assistance or not, Mpho said „Yes‟ and considers them very supportive. She also singled out her boyfriend of two years, as another source of income. Mpho‟s boyfriend has a full time job and is always helpful when she is in financial crisis. She said though her boyfriend‟s job involves a lot of traveling, he is always there when she needs him. She calls him whenever she needs money.
When asked if which things has she got herself involved in, to generate income, she said none but jokingly said she plays lotto. She said she would play lotto until she dies, even if she finds a well paying job. She indicated that though she has never won anything, she would continue playing the game because it can change her life for the better.
3.3.6 Expectations.
On the question, what should be done by the state to help, Mpho said the government should provide jobs or financial assistance in a form of grants to the unemployed. She said this would help many to gain access to basic needs and services. Mpho was also unhappy with costs involved during job search period.
She complained about taxi fares and money she pays when applying for
employment. She indicated that printing and faxing CVs has become unbearably expensive for an unemployed person. She therefore indicated that the government would have to accommodate all unemployed young people by offering them jobs as interns in its local and national government departments.
On the question, what little things could help you as an unemployed, Mpho singled out:
Money for taxi fare, faxing, and making phone calls during job search.
Provision of internships, particularly to graduates who need skills and work experience.
In terms of transport costs, Mpho indicated that she would like to buy her own car because taxi fares are just too high, she would rather own one than pay for taxis.
She indicated that she seldom leaves her home because she cannot afford the taxi fare.
When asked if she would you take any grant or donation given to her because of her unemployed status, Mpho answered, “Yes”. When asked how much she would need, she said more than R100 a week because she believes the cost of living has increased. The important things that Mpho would use the money (grant) on include:
Clothes, cosmetics
And for job search.
Mpho acknowledged that she needs more money to fulfil the above-mentioned things and therefore believed that only through a job can she manage to attend to most of her needs.
3.3.7 How she feels about being unemployed.
Mpho is also not worried about her joblessness status, because she believes that she is not responsible for her situation. Instead she said, “The government and employers should be held responsible for high unemployment”. She believes that the government and the employers do not care about the unemployed. Mpho pointed out continuous job losses as main reasons that show that neither of the two is doing enough to eradicate unemployment.
When asked that she has sacrificed her time trying to get the most affordable education and training there is, to boost her chances of getting employment.
Mpho said she would not blame herself because there are so many unemployed graduates in our township who also cannot find employment.