National registration drive comes to Mbombela
The Department of Employment and Labour in Mpumalanga will stage a week-long work seeker registration drive across the City of Mbombela Local Municipality from 13 to 20 August 2026, aimed at connecting unemployed South Africans with job opportunities by registering them on the Employment Services of South Africa (ESSA) system.
The campaign is intended both for new work seekers who have never been on the national database and for people already registered who need to update their profiles so they can be matched more effectively with available posts. According to the department, the drive is particularly important for people with technical and artisan skills as well as those with experience in several specialist functions.
“Aimed at connecting unemployed South Africans with employment opportunities.”
Registration sessions will be held at community hubs across the city. Each session will run from 09:30 to 14:30. The department said applicants should bring a comprehensive CV and proof of residence so their details, qualifications and experience can be captured correctly on the national system.
- Who should attend: new work seekers and those who need to update their ESSA profiles.
- Skills and experience sought: banana ripening and cold-store operations, information technology, waste management, forklift, rocker bin and cherry picker operations, consignment and product control, marketing, finance and procurement, and electrical and plumbing trades.
- What to bring: comprehensive CV with contact details, qualifications, Grade 12 subjects passed, work experience and references, plus proof of residence.
Local schedule and practical details
The department has scheduled six sessions around Mbombela so residents from different wards can access the service without travelling far. The programme begins in Phumlani and ends in Brondal the following week.
| Day | Date | Venue | Time |
|---|---|---|---|
| Thursday | 13 August 2026 | Phumlani | 09:30–14:30 |
| Friday | 14 August 2026 | Mathafini Old Wood House | 09:30–14:30 |
| Monday | 17 August 2026 | Mathafini Eskomo at Mbombela Stadium | 09:30–14:30 |
| Tuesday | 18 August 2026 | Msholozi | 09:30–14:30 |
| Wednesday | 19 August 2026 | KaMagugu | 09:30–14:30 |
| Thursday | 20 August 2026 | Brondal | 09:30–14:30 |
What this means for Mbombela residents
For many residents the ESSA registration drive offers a practical step towards employment: it places details about qualifications and experience on a national database that employers and public-sector recruiters can use when matching candidates to vacancies. The department has highlighted technical and artisan trades as priority areas, reflecting demand across industries that operate in and around Mbombela.
Those with specific skills in cold-store and banana-ripening operations, and operators of forklifts and cherry pickers, may find the drive useful because these competencies were explicitly flagged by the department. The inclusion of marketing, finance, procurement and IT indicates that both operational and specialist office-based roles are part of the matching effort.
Residents are advised to prepare a clear CV and bring proof of residence to avoid delays during registration. Updating existing ESSA profiles is equally important: the department said accurate, current information improves the chances of being matched to suitable opportunities.
The registration drive forms part of the department’s ongoing efforts to strengthen access to employment opportunities by ensuring job seekers’ details, qualifications and skills are captured on the national database for potential matching with available posts.
Local residents who plan to attend are encouraged to arrive within the stated hours and to ensure their documents are complete so the department can record accurate information for future job matching.
