Premier Zamani Saul and the acting CEO of merSeta, Disa Mpande. Picture: Soraya Crowie
WHILE more than 2,000 youths in the Northern Cape will be selected for skills development and training following a memorandum of agreement that was signed with the Manufacturing, Engineering and Related Services Sector Education and Training Authority (merSeta) this week, it was admitted that it is a struggle to retain these skills in the Province.
Northern Cape Premier Dr Zamani Saul said the three-year skills development programme would amount to a R210 million investment in the city.
"Our business proposal has been approved at the end of March and we will submit an implementation plan in the next week. There is an urgency to get unemployed youths to become economically sustainable," said Saul.
He acknowledged that they would have to develop a retention strategy to retain skills in the Province.
“It is one of the biggest problems, it happens all the time that skills are drained from the Province. The funds belong to the country so we also want youths to be able to work in any city or country. If they happen to stay, it is an added bonus. I have the same problem with students who are awarded bursaries from the Premier’s Bursary Fund.”
Saul added that human capital development was crucial to reduce poverty, unemployment and inequality.
“The shortage of skills can be attributed to the mismatch between the supply of skills and the labour market demand, aggravated by a loss of skills to other provinces that offer higher salaries and better conditions of employment.
“However, with the correct approach, the Northern Cape could foster and maintain the requisite skills base through continuous formal schooling, higher education, in-service training, appropriate work experience, investments in health, outreach and extension programmes and life experience.”
The acting chief operations officer of merSeta, Naphtaly Mokgotsane, said the beneficiaries would be chosen by the Office of the Premier.
"Graduates from TVET colleges with a technical background will be chosen to become welders, boilermakers and panel beaters.”
The acting CEO of merSeta, Disa Mpande, stated that this was “the biggest and a one-of-a-kind” investment.
"Usually students only attend TVET colleges as they do not have alternative options. We want to get young people excited about vocational training such as engineering, manufacturing and automative-plastics industries.
“Young people will be trained to run their own businesses and create employment instead of having to look for jobs. This in turn will grow the economy.
"Amid the energy crisis, people should be able to ask their neighbours to install solar panels in their homes, at an affordable price."