Events and Exhibitions
From left : John Parry ( SARACCA / SAQCC Gas ), Margaret Molefe ( DFFE ), Christian Grün ( German Embassy in South Africa ), Unami Dube ( AUDA-NEPAD ), Grant Laidlaw ( ACRA ), Zamokwakhe Khuzwayo ( DHET ) and Emmanuel Mbuwe ( QCTO ).
we look at the facility itself and things like the ammonia plant . We know that the main objective for this programme is aimed at the youth , as well as women and vulnerable people and we are certain that whatever the learners are going to be taught here is going to help them to employment , or to self-employed . This milestone really needs to be commended and is a very big step for ACRA , and the country .”
Next to address the event was Christian Grün , head of cooperation from the German Embassy in South Africa . He noted , ” When we came in this morning we were directed through the workshop and that was very smart to allow guests to actually see the implementation of training . The Skills Initiative for Africa is a programme funded , inter alia , by the German government that specifically looks at linkages between the private sector and skills development for employment opportunities and economic growth . Today we ' ve heard the numbers of 65 % of youth unemployment , and I think that doesn ' t need any explanation in that the situation is dire . Further , demand for proper skills is a very big challenge too and that is why I think it is so important to have initiatives like this one , where private sector has a say and comes to the table to actually bring the input and partner with institutions like the Department of Higher Education and Training - creating good connections that are actually talking to each other . Initiatives like this really show how to make use of the huge opportunities that exist because we hear a lot about challenges and difficulties for private sector development in a country like South Africa , but let me tell you , when I speak to some of the German or European companies , they ' re very confident that this is an excellent place to do business . And not just for South Africa , but South Africa as a hub for the wider region . Congratulations to the team and partners in what I believe is going to have a big impact to grow the industry and create opportunities . This project is extremely important for the future of the country , and the continent , so we too are proud as German partners to be involved .”
In between speakers , Laidlaw added that these types of projects also help training providers to grow their material ,
expand their abilities and knowledge – all to benefit the learners .
Speaking next on behalf of the AUDA-NEPAD chief executive officer , Unami Dube expressed the critical aspects of private sector-owned-and-led initiatives to partner with the public sector to improve the overall skill development system . “ We really want to see young people skilled and this programme is an important initiative that will spur growth and employment , ensure greater inclusion of women and other disadvantaged groups , including disabled persons . This is key to improving the outcomes for our youth . When we want to achieve completion of this project in 18 months , we need to be working together and so we are very grateful that we can work with all the stakeholders that also look for sustainability of the objectives and the impact of such projects in order that we have a good story to tell and to showcase to everybody else . That good story is only as good as the partnerships and how that translates to the learners that in turn become the contractors of tomorrow . In South Africa , one of the high growth sectors is infrastructure repair and maintenance and as we see a shift to new technologies , young people don ' t necessarily have to take work at a company , they can also have their own businesses and that means the requirement of an extended curriculum from the practical workplace tasks to plug them into the supply chains of the big industries so that we can see local economies grow rather than the common sight of so many people sitting on the side of the road , or walking around aimlessly – that is not the future we want . To achieve the objective , we have to ask the questions - how do we better organise ourselves ? How do we build the capabilities to be entrepreneurs ? How do we work better with governments ? How do we work better with quality assurance so that the youth have hope in the future for tomorrow ? My answer to that is that we must all wake up in love with the problem of youth unemployment .”
The final keynote address was given by Zamokwakhe Khuzwayo , acting executive officer : national skills authority at the Department of Higher Education and Training . “ According
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