/ 8 June 2012

Committed to empowerment

Gauteng provincial minister for infrastructure development Bheki Nkosi.
Gauteng provincial minister for infrastructure development Bheki Nkosi.

Nkosi, signed the memorandum of understanding (MOU) with Disabled People South Africa (DPSA), represented by Ernest Tsipa, and South African Woman in Construction (SAWiC), represented by Kelekile Kwinana, in November 2011.

“In signing this MOU my department aims to strengthen the recruitment processes and therein tangibly increase the economic opportunities available in Gauteng for people living with disabilities and woman in construction,” said Nkosi.

“DPSA is highly encouraged by the initiative taken to create opportunities for people with disabilities,” said Tsipa.
 
“This gives us the chance to play a meaningful role in the socio­economic livelihood of our province and our country.”

Kelekile Kwinana said, “The MOU must be seen as part of the response to the clarion call made by President Zuma that all social partners must help develop industrialists. This MOU is thus a step in the right direction.”

All signatories have committed to joining forces to mobilise people with disabilities to take part in Expanded Public Works Programme and Capital Works projects, in a bid to accelerate the participation of woman in the construction sector. This mobilisation will include approved recruitment strategies and the transparent recruitment of participants, with a quarterly review of the level of response. The agreement will be effective for three years.

Gauteng government and Labour Department help 176 youths
The scarcity of technical skills remains one of the key challenges to our country’s economy, affecting industries in both the public and private sector. In response to this deficit the Gauteng Provincial Government launched the Accelerated Artisans Training Programme (ATTP) more than two years ago.

The need for skills development for historically disadvantaged people took centre stage in December 2011 when the Minister of Labour, Nelisiwe Oliphant, and the Department of Infrastructure Development’s Head of Department, Maggie Modipa, awarded 176 young people artisan’s certificates.

The ATTP offers participants accredited training in areas such as fitting and turning, boilermaking, electricity, welding and plumbing.

It is also aimed at enabling the service delivery arms of government to gain from the additional skills base of new artisans, while
providing graduates with much needed practical exposure to the workplace.

An elated electrical graduate, William Ramodipa, said, “As one of the beneficiaries of the ATTP, I would like to express our gratitude to the government for giving us an opportunity to turn our lives around, for the better. Today, I am a qualified artisan and am ready to start contributing to job creation in our country.”

Alina Xaba, who was certified as a fitter and turner, said, “Participating in the artisans programme has helped me realise my true potential. I have always believed that my vocation was in the technical fields and this has proven me right. I have been able to achieve the goal that I had set for myself. I am really glad to be part of the first ATTP group, which is a historical success.”