City Power employs 24 electrical engineering students
City Power has employed 24 electrical engineering students with the end goal of producing certified engineers over the next three years.
CITY Power has heeded the call from the National Treasury to contribute to improving work experience skills for many of the unemployed youth across the country.
It has employed 24 electrical engineering students, with the end goal of producing certified engineers over the next three years.
Managing director for City Power Sicelo Xulu said: “The response we received from the advertisement was overwhelming. Almost 200 qualified engineers came to our head office in Johannesburg to apply.
”It was disheartening to see how many of our young people are sitting at home with degrees, unable to find work and, unfortunately, we could take only 24 learners this cycle.
”We need to find a way to incorporate the remaining qualified applicants and we challenge other utilities and the private sector to consider taking graduates whom we could not employ.”
The provision of this on-the- job training will not only benefit students by providing them with the required experience and addressing the issue of shortages of work-ready skills in the country, it will also benefit them as the utility responds faster to service disruption, teaching improved performance efficiencies, while ensuring skills transfer.
Government is making a concerted effort to professionalise the engineering field in the country, and the utility has partnered with the Engineering Council of South Africa (ECSA) on a special joint initiative, known as Road to Recruitment.
“There are not enough professional engineers in the country; this initiative is not just good for City Power or ECSA, ultimately it will raise the competency levels of engineers in the country,” said Xulu.
”We need other energy utilities to join the cause, by providing on-the-job training.
“Employers are increasingly requiring registration with ECSA as a prerequisite for appointment to certain engineering positions. Graduates who have not registered with the professional body will find it difficult to find jobs in the engineering sector.
”This programme is not only a job opportunity for previously unemployed youth, but also elevates learners’ existing qualifications. The successful implementation of this programme may encourage National Treasury to give us more funding for a larger intake next year.”
City Power plans to continue recruiting new graduates once it has selected the top 24 learners who will participate in the programme this cycle.
City Power’s recruitment policy is governed by an acquisition process, where interested applicants are required to respond to a national advertisement. The utility screens the applicants based on qualifications and selects the most suitable contenders for interviews.
In case you missed it:
https://www.citizen.co.za/southern-courier/94476/city-power-to-address-residents-concerns/
https://www.citizen.co.za/southern-courier/104034/city-power-aiding-iec/
