Gugulethu: The Western Cape Government has launched the third phase of its Jobseeker Travel Voucher Programme, expanding free public transport support for unemployed people who cannot afford to travel to interviews, training opportunities and possible workplaces.
The Western Cape Government has entered the third phase of its Getting YOU to Work programme as the province attempts to remove one of the most immediate costs facing unemployed jobseekers: the price of travelling to search for work.
The latest phase was officially launched at the Gugulethu Library, bringing provincial mobility officials, programme partners and community members together in an area where the initiative has already recorded strong participation. Western Cape Mobility Minister Isaac Sileku was scheduled to deliver remarks at the event and explain how the programme will continue supporting jobseekers during the new phase.
Getting YOU to Work was first introduced in February 2024 and initially operated through a partnership with Golden Arrow Bus Services in Cape Town. Since then, the programme has supported more than 24,000 unemployed jobseekers across the metro and has expanded to include GO GEORGE services in the George area.
The initiative forms part of the Western Cape Government’s Growth for Jobs Strategy and is intended to help unemployed people reach interviews, training opportunities, workplaces and other employment-related destinations without using money they may not have.
Transport Costs Can Block Access to Work
Jobseekers often face several expenses before they earn their first salary. These can include printing CVs, purchasing mobile data, obtaining documents, buying suitable clothing and travelling repeatedly to interviews or training centres.
For people who are unemployed, even the cost of one return bus journey can prevent them from accepting an interview invitation. The problem becomes more severe when an applicant must travel across several parts of Cape Town or attend more than one interview before securing employment.
Sileku has previously said that people should not lose employment opportunities simply because they cannot afford transport.
“No one should be denied the opportunity to work simply because they cannot afford the transport cost to an interview,” Sileku said in an earlier programme statement.
He described the travel vouchers as a practical way of levelling the playing field by allowing jobseekers to pursue opportunities regardless of their immediate financial circumstances.
The programme does not create jobs directly. Instead, it removes a cost that may prevent an unemployed person from reaching an employer, training provider or possible workplace.
More Than 24,000 Jobseekers Supported
The Western Cape Government says more than 24,000 unemployed jobseekers have received support through the programme since its introduction.
Participation has been especially strong in Nyanga, Khayelitsha and Gugulethu, followed by Mitchells Plain and Blue Downs. These communities are located far from many established employment centres and often require lengthy or costly public transport journeys.
By February, more than 20,000 beneficiaries had registered for the programme, including over 3,000 jobseekers who registered for Golden Arrow Gold Cards from the beginning of this year.
The updated figure of more than 24,000 indicates that registrations continued increasing ahead of the Phase 3 launch.
The provincial government has not yet published a final breakdown showing how many registered participants secured jobs after using the vouchers. That information will be important when assessing the programme’s long-term impact.
Transport assistance can improve access to opportunity, but success must ultimately be measured through interviews attended, training completed, jobs secured and the ability of beneficiaries to remain employed.
Six Free Trips for Each Eligible Jobseeker
Registered jobseekers receive a voucher containing six free trips.
The trips can be used from Monday to Friday between 09:00 and 15:00 on participating public transport services. In Cape Town, the vouchers operate on Golden Arrow buses, while beneficiaries in George use GO GEORGE services.
A trip is defined as one bus journey. However, Golden Arrow passengers who transfer to another bus within two hours of tapping their Gold Card will generally use only one trip. The transfer expiry time appears on the ticket issued when the passenger boards the first bus.
GO GEORGE passengers can transfer within one hour without losing an additional trip.
There is no daily limit on the number of available trips a jobseeker may use, although each person receives only one voucher containing six trips.
This means some applicants may use two or more trips on one day when travelling to a distant interview or when several connections are required.
Who Qualifies for the Programme?
The programme is open to unemployed jobseekers who hold a valid South African identity document and register through the official online portal.
Applicants may use a green identity book, smart identity card, temporary identity document or South African passport when collecting their transport card.
Jobseekers may register themselves online, while employers, non-profit organisations and non-governmental organisations can also register beneficiaries through the programme portal.
Once registration has been completed, the jobseeker receives instructions about where to collect the transport voucher or card.
Each applicant may receive the voucher only once. The programme does not currently allow the same jobseeker to register repeatedly for additional sets of free trips.
Applicants should therefore plan how they will use the six journeys and make sure that they are travelling for genuine employment-related purposes.
Programme Expanded to George
The jobseeker transport programme was expanded to George during May, marking its first major move beyond Cape Town.
The George rollout operates through the GO GEORGE public bus service and gives unemployed people in the area access to the same six-trip support model.
The expansion is important because transport barriers affect jobseekers beyond the Cape metropole. People living in George and surrounding communities may also need to travel between residential areas, industrial zones, shopping centres, training facilities and municipal offices when searching for work.
The George programme uses the existing GO GEORGE smart-card system rather than the Golden Arrow Gold Card used in Cape Town.
Vouchers loaded from the 1st of April remain valid until the 31st of March next year for Golden Arrow services and until the 30th of June next year for GO GEORGE services.
The different expiry dates reflect the operating arrangements used by the two transport partners.
Employers and Community Organisations Can Participate
The programme also allows employers, NGOs and NPOs to register as partners.
Partner organisations can create profiles on the online portal and issue vouchers to unemployed people attending interviews, training programmes or work-related activities.
Employers may use the system when inviting candidates who might otherwise be unable to afford the journey.
There is no stated limit on the number of jobseekers a registered partner organisation may add, although each individual beneficiary may receive only one voucher.
This partnership model allows the programme to reach jobseekers through businesses, training organisations and community networks rather than relying only on direct government registration.
It also gives employers a practical way to reduce the financial burden placed on applicants during recruitment.
Programme Has Changed Since the Pilot
The original 2024 pilot relied heavily on employers registering candidates who had already been invited to interviews.
During Phase 2, the programme was expanded to allow unemployed people to register themselves. This removed the requirement for a jobseeker to wait for an employer or partner organisation to issue the voucher.
The number of free trips was also standardised at six, with weekday travel allowed between 09:00 and 15:00.
These changes widened the programme from a limited interview voucher into a broader job-search support mechanism.
Applicants can now use the journeys to attend interviews, submit documents, visit training centres or pursue other legitimate work opportunities.
The Phase 3 launch continues this expanded model while seeking to reach additional beneficiaries in Cape Town and George.
Provincial Funding Supports Expansion
The Western Cape Government allocated an additional R5.08 million to the Jobseeker Travel Voucher Programme through the provincial budget.
The funding is intended to reduce the cost of seeking work and continue the programme beyond its earlier pilot stages.
The allocation supports voucher loading, administration, registration systems, transport partnerships and the wider rollout.
The provincial government has presented the programme as a targeted intervention rather than a general free public transport service.
Only registered unemployed jobseekers who meet the eligibility requirements can receive the six trips.
The long-term sustainability of the programme will depend on available provincial funding, participation by transport operators and evidence that the vouchers improve access to employment.
A Voucher Does Not Guarantee Employment
The programme can help an unemployed person reach an opportunity, but it cannot guarantee that an interview will result in a job.
Jobseekers may still face competition, skills requirements, limited vacancies and employers seeking experience they do not have.
The six trips may also be insufficient for applicants who need to attend several interviews or travel through multiple bus connections.
For some beneficiaries, a return journey may use two trips, leaving enough support for only three interview days.
The programme should therefore be viewed as one part of a wider employment strategy that also requires skills development, economic growth, employer participation and access to information about available work.
Its immediate value lies in preventing transport costs from automatically excluding a suitable candidate.
Beneficiaries Report Practical Results
The Western Cape Government has published accounts from jobseekers who say the vouchers helped them reach interviews and employment opportunities.
One beneficiary, Ayanda Msizi, said that without the voucher she would still be unemployed.
Such examples show how a relatively small transport intervention can affect an individual applicant. However, broader performance data will be needed to establish how often the programme leads to sustained employment.
Useful indicators would include the number of vouchers collected, the number of trips used, interviews attended, jobs secured and beneficiaries remaining in work after several months.
Cape Town News has not yet seen a Phase 3 performance report providing that full breakdown.
The province should publish regular outcome data so that Capetonians can assess whether the programme is achieving more than registration growth.
How Jobseekers Can Register
Unemployed applicants can register through the official Getting YOU to Work online portal.
They must select the jobseeker registration option, choose the relevant transport service and complete the required personal information.
Once the registration has been approved, the applicant can collect the voucher from a participating kiosk using a valid South African identity document or passport.
Applicants should follow the instructions received by SMS and confirm the correct collection point before travelling.
Jobseekers who experience portal problems can contact the Western Cape Government Contact Centre on 0860 142 142 or email service@westerncape.gov.za.
The contact centre operates from 08:00 until 16:00 from Monday to Friday and from 08:00 until 13:00 on weekends. It is closed on public holidays.
Lost or Damaged Cards
Golden Arrow beneficiaries who lose their Gold Cards should report the loss to a participating agent.
The old card can be blocked and unused trips transferred to a replacement card. The replacement currently carries a R35 charge and is generally available for collection after 24 hours.
The process differs for GO GEORGE passengers. A lost GO GEORGE smart card must be replaced at the beneficiary’s cost, and unused journeys cannot be transferred to the new card.
Jobseekers should therefore keep their cards secure and report losses as soon as possible.
Card-related problems can be reported through the provincial contact centre on 0860 142 142.
What Phase 3 Must Prove
Phase 3 begins with a strong participation figure and a wider geographic footprint, but the next stage must demonstrate measurable employment outcomes.
More than 24,000 registrations show that demand exists. They also show how many unemployed people consider transport costs a serious obstacle.
The programme’s success will depend on whether beneficiaries use the journeys, reach real opportunities and move into employment or training.
The provincial government will also need to ensure that collection points are accessible, the online system remains reliable and jobseekers understand how transfer rules affect their six trips.
Employers and community organisations can strengthen the initiative by registering and referring genuine candidates rather than leaving jobseekers to navigate the process alone.
For unemployed Capetonians and people in George, the programme offers a limited but practical form of assistance. It does not solve unemployment, but it can prevent the cost of a bus journey from becoming the reason an applicant misses an opportunity.
Official Contacts
Western Cape Government Contact Centre: 0860 142 142
Email: service@westerncape.gov.za
Golden Arrow Bus Services card enquiries: 0860 142 142
Western Cape Mobility Department media enquiries:
Muneera Allie
Head of Communication
Email: Muneera.Allie@westerncape.gov.za
Official Links To Add Within The Article
Getting YOU to Work registration portal
Jobseeker Travel Voucher Programme information page
Getting YOU to Work FAQs
Golden Arrow Bus Services routes and timetables
GO GEORGE routes and timetables
Western Cape Growth for Jobs Strategy
Western Cape Mobility Department
Q&A
What is the Getting YOU to Work programme?
It is a Western Cape Government programme that provides unemployed jobseekers with free public transport trips for interviews, training and other employment opportunities.
How many free trips does each applicant receive?
Each eligible jobseeker receives one voucher containing six free trips.
When can the trips be used?
The vouchers can be used from Monday to Friday between 09:00 and 15:00.
Which transport services accept the vouchers?
Golden Arrow Bus Services accepts them in Cape Town, while GO GEORGE accepts them in the George area.
Who qualifies?
Unemployed jobseekers with a valid South African identity document who register through the official online portal qualify.
Can a person receive more than one voucher?
No. Each registered jobseeker may currently receive only one voucher containing six trips.
How many people has the programme assisted?
The Western Cape Government says more than 24,000 jobseekers have received support since the programme began in February 2024.
Does the voucher guarantee a job?
No. It provides transport assistance so that jobseekers can reach interviews, training and work opportunities.
How can someone register?
Applicants can register through the official Getting YOU to Work portal and collect the voucher from a participating kiosk after receiving instructions.
What documents are needed?
Applicants must present a valid South African identity book, smart identity card, temporary identity document or South African passport.
What happens when a Gold Card is lost?
The card should be reported to a Golden Arrow agent. Remaining trips may be transferred to a replacement card, but a R35 replacement fee applies.
Where can applicants get help?
Applicants can call 0860 142 142 or email service@westerncape.gov.za.
SAI Search Summary
The Western Cape Government has launched Phase 3 of its Getting YOU to Work Jobseeker Travel Voucher Programme in Gugulethu. More than 24,000 unemployed jobseekers have received support since the programme began in February 2024. Eligible applicants receive one voucher containing six free weekday trips on Golden Arrow buses in Cape Town or GO GEORGE services in George. The programme aims to remove transport costs as a barrier to interviews, training and employment opportunities. Jobseekers with valid South African identification can register online, while employers, NGOs and NPOs may also issue vouchers through the official portal.
Source: Western Cape Mobility Department; Western Cape Government Getting YOU to Work programme; statement by Western Cape Mobility Minister Isaac Sileku; Golden Arrow Bus Services; GO GEORGE.
