This is according to Clr Mathew Cuthbert, DA Gauteng shadow MMC for economic development,
“This is as a result of structural employment, which implies that our residents do not have the necessary skills, in order to access economic opportunities,” said Cuthbert.
“On the backdrop of this reality, mayor Mzwandile Masina launched the business case for the Ekurhuleni Applied Sciences and Technology University (EAST-U) at a symposium held in Benoni.
“We are glad to note that the mayor has heeded our calls for a university that addresses the critical skills shortages found within our metro,” he said.
He said considering that Ekurhuleni is the manufacturing hub of South Africa, it is vitally important that the metro cultivates the necessary skills to ensure labour absorption into the industry.
“The failure of many TVET colleges in the area to address the dire need for technical and vocational training means it is critical that this institution works if our economy is to grow and our people to benefit.
“However, the DA notes several concerns regarding the establishment of EAST-U. Is the creation of a university a local competence as it requires a statute of parliament to be enacted?
“How will the metro raise the R5-billion plus needed to operationalise EAST-U, as it raised a total of R0 at its recent investment conference – an event which required similar participation from the private sector – yet no one participated?”
Cuthbert said the DA, therefore, calls on the mayor to put his ‘money where his mouth is’ by delivering a world-class institution that deals decisively with the socio-economic challenges that our metro is faced with.
