Unlocking opportunities: Free transport for Western Cape job seekers

A second phase of the Jobseeker Travel Voucher Programme has been launched, enabling more job seekers to access free travel to prospective job opportunities. 

The Western Cape Government launched the initiative and said Phase 2 of the ‘Getting You to Work’ Jobseeker Travel Voucher Programme is aimed at tackling one of the greatest barriers facing unemployed residents - the cost of transport. 

The second phase was launched at the Town Centre Library in Mitchells Plain earlier this month. At the time, over 300 job seekers attended, registered, and received their gold cards (from Golden Arrow), which would allow them to travel free to access job opportunities across the Cape Metro. 

 This programme was first introduced in February 2024, and since then, over 3,700 unemployed residents have registered through more than 150 employer partners.

The goal of this programme is to remove the barrier created by the cost of public transport for residents to get to jobs.

Phase 1 revealed particularly high uptake in communities such as Mitchells Plain, Khayelitsha, Delft, Gugulethu, and Philippi.

Head of Communications for the Western Cape Mobility Department, Muneera Allie said too many capable and willing residents remain unemployed not because they lack skills or motivation, but simply because they cannot afford to get to an interview, training centre or their first day of work. 

“Transport becomes an obstacle to residents achieving their full potential. This programme is about opening doors and restoring dignity. It is about recognising that every person deserves a fair shot at opportunity. Phase 2 aims to expand our reach, making it easier for more job seekers to register, access support, and get to where they need to be," Allie said. 

What’s new in Phase 2:

• Self-registration: Job seekers can now register online directly, removing the previous requirement to go through a registered employer.
• Six free trips per voucher: Vouchers now carry six free trips, usable between 9am and 3pm, Monday to Friday.
• Extended duration: The programme has been extended until March 31, 2026.
• In Phase 2, employers in Cape Town are also encouraged to register as partners and offer the travel vouchers to prospective employees.

This initiative forms part of the provincial government’s  Growth for Jobs Strategy, which aims to build an inclusive, resilient, and sustainable economy. 

Mobility MEC, Isaac Sileku, said that by assisting job seekers with free transport, the programme not only helps individuals and families but also strengthens the provincial economy by connecting people to opportunities.

“We know from our data that those who received vouchers had a greater chance of attending interviews, securing work, and participating in skills development. That is the pathway from unemployment to opportunity. That is the Growth for Jobs agenda in action. No one should be left behind because they cannot afford to get to an interview. We will continue to innovate, to listen, and to work together to create a mobility system that serves all the people of the Western Cape,” he said. 

How to apply:

Job seekers can register online by completing the job seeker registration prompts on the portal and then presenting their ID at Golden Arrow kiosks to collect their gold card. 

Cape Argus