Speaking at the Ekurhuleni Job Summit, member of the mayoral committee for economic development, Clr Thumbu Mahlangu, highlighted that the Ekurhuleni Metro has set aside R26-million for bursaries and skills development programmes in the upcoming financial year.
Mahlangu called upon the business sector to assist the metro to utilise this budget effectively, by accepting young people into their companies’ graduate and training programmes.
“The scarcity of skills is a critical issue and government alone cannot empower the youth; the reality is that you can help by working closely with us in delivering on our plan to assist young people,” he explained.
“This summit is the platform where we can discuss and come up with solutions to empower the youth.”
Hugo Cuter, from Stan Rand Consultancy, was among the business, government department and agency representatives invited to the summit.
He spoke about the importance of strengthening public-private partnerships in order to capacitate unskilled and unemployed young people in Ekurhuleni.
Cuter emphasised the importance of such a platform to learn how a public and private partnership can be established to create youth empowerment opportunities.
Graduate placement and learnership programmes that the municipality is rolling out in communities were presented to stakeholders, to ensure that businesses are aware of the municipality’s vision with regard to youth development.
The day’s programme featured presentations by the National Youth Development Agency on their Youth Empowerment Initiatives, the Department of Public Works on the Expanded Public Works Programme Phase 3, and the Gauteng Department of Economic Development on the development of township economies. – @NalediBoksburg
Also read:
Local plumber to learn new skills in Germany
Career Expo and Job Summit to tackle unemployment
