A number of people were injured as 25 000 showed for a job fair.
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THERE was chaos at Athlone Stadium on Thursday when some 25 000 job seekers showed up at the City’s 'A Day of 1 000 Opportunities' event and a number of people were injured in a reported stampede.
SAPS Public Order Policing made use of a stun grenade to maintain crowd control outside the stadium, the City said.
The event was hosted by CapeBPO and the City’s special purpose vehicle (SPC), 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.”
But the turnout exceeded capacity. At the stadium, Metro Police and SAPS were called in for crowd control, with a number of injuries reported.
In a statement Thursday evening, the City said attendees began queuing at the stadium in the early hours of the morning to be screened for possible job opportunities with the City’s contact centre partners.
“Claims that shots were fired on the crowd are false and unfounded. SAPS Public Order Policing made use of a stun grenade to maintain crowd control outside the stadium.
“Emergency services have been on site all day. It is regrettable that a few people sustained injuries during the day due to overcrowding, but were all immediately assisted with medical care.”
Officials from the City, CapeBPO and the various companies processed applications inside the stadium in an orderly fashion, the City added.
"The City’s Law Enforcement, SAPS and other safety and security personnel remained on site to ensure the safety of all residents and officials in attendance."
"The City is committed to ensuring the calm and safety at the stadium and thanks residents for showing up in their numbers. This shows the need for this kind of initiative in our city to bolster economic growth and create job opportunities."
"The City regrets the incident and the inconvenience, and thanks attendees for their patience."
Ward councillor Rashid Adams explained: “No shots were fired, there was a bit of a stampede, and a few people got injured. Police were there to secure crowd control.”
The City said those who were not able to get into the stadium can still apply online.
Cape Times