Dire desire for a Cape Town job

To those still seeking work in Cape Town: We see you, and we won’t stop.

Recent words from Premier Alan Winde as the City of Cape Town recorded the lowest unemployment rate of all South Africa’s major metros.

But how easy is it to get a job in Cape Town? Say in a semi-skilled industry like hospitality. What if you time it well and try before high season?

Not easy at all

In two separate occasions The South African recently witnessed the hard reality of young counterparts queuing for a chance of an interview to work in two establishments: A hotel and a restaurant that opened during the 2025-2026 high season.

In the case of the hotel applicants had to go through three separate interview processes. The first you only passed if you had more than five years experience on your CV.

Few made it to the last phase.

Later it was believed that the specific hotel’s opening date had to be long extended, leaving even the ultimately successful candidates disappointed.

In the case of the restaurant, a new addition to the Kalk Bay strip it is doing really well. One believes those who were successful in getting a job a few months before they opened, as well.

Pushing through

In both instances the advertising for positions were done on social media.

On the day the line – all the way through the parking lot in Kalk Bay – was only the beginning.

All the space inside the actual building was taken up.

At one point the pushing and shoving to get through the door and into the last room, where another queue was, was getting serious.

“I am getting out of here” a young male remarked.

On his CV he only had experience in managing his own business: Selling Angora rabbits. He said business was good in KwaZulu-Natal, but not since moving to the Western Cape with his parents.

Applicants ages ranged from 18-24. Here and there an aged restaurant veteran was standing out. One of them said he was back from working in Thailand and hoping he could settle in the area.

Hope prevails. The hustle is hard.