Accelerating nation-building through education
The Department of Environmental Affairs, in partnership with the Local Government Sector Education Training Authority and along with six municipalities in Gauteng, hosted a graduation ceremony at the Birchwood Hotel, on August 31.
A total of 94 competent students were honoured with a certificate after they had completed the FETC: Environmental Practice Learnership programme (NQF Level 4), at various campuses across the six municipalities.
The programme is aimed at addressing the environmental sector skills shortage at local government level and to help to strengthen the skills pipeline within the environmental sector and thereby deliver on its mandate by supporting organisations in the sector.
Nosipho Ngcaba, the Director General at the Department of Environmental Affairs, said of the graduates: “Your lives will never be the same again, as each one of you can now empower others to help to make a change.
“Don’t rest on your skills or the knowledge you have acquired, but further improve your knowledge and grab all opportunities coming your way with both hands.”
Bulumko Nelana, managing director of the Johannesburg City Parks and Zoo, said: “I congratulate every graduate and I advise each of you to work on building on your future.”
Graduate Hlulani Mabaso said he was overjoyed with what he has achieved.
“At least now I have something to work on in terms of perusing my dreams,” he explained.
