Provincial premiers have been offered R1-billion between them for skills-development programmes but none seem to be interested in picking up the cheques, said the Department of Labour on Wednesday.
Department spokesperson Mokgadi Pela said the R1-billion National Skills Fund Strategic Projects — one of SA’s biggest skills development projects — are being launched in Dutywa in the Eastern Cape on December 2.
”The planned launch could, however, turn into a disappointment as most provincial premiers have declined the invitation, most of them without even indicating replacement officials to receive the cheques on behalf of their provinces,” said Pela.
”Looking at responses so far, it is not clear whether many of them have accepted invitations, and this concerns me,” said Labour Minister Membathisi Mdladlana.
Pela said the provinces will share the money equally.
The projects are expected to benefit about 360 000 young people through training by 2009. — Sapa