NEWS
YES to W Cape skills
development
The Department of Trade and Industry (dti) has launched a skills
academy to offer Western Cape youth a better chance in the job market.
The Lesedi Skills Development Academy in Atlantis has employed a total of 35 learners so far.
T
he Lesedi Skills Development
Academy, based in Atlantis, is part of
the dti’s Youth Empowerment
Service (YES) Programme.
“Government is aware that skills
development in the past was limited to the
minority and many people had less access,
yet it is a critical requirement for the majority
to get jobs. This is the reason every time we
engage with business, we insist on skills
development which is non-negotiable for all.
“To underpin the importance of skills
development government launched the YES
Programme. This programme aims to
improve the grim employment outlook for
young job seekers by offering work
opportunities and inclusion in the
economy,” says Minister Davies.
Minister Davies states that business has
agreed to partner and create 300 000
internships a year for unemployed youth for
the next three years.
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JUNE 2018
RESIDENTIAL // COMMERCIAL // INDUSTRIAL
“Every bit counts towards addressing the
issue of skills development and
unemployment. We therefore cannot
compromise if we need more people to
participate meaningfully in the economy.
The skills that the academy develops will
assist the Atlantis community to tap into
the proposed *Atlantis Special Economic
Zone [SEZ], among others. The SEZ is
anticipated to be authorised by the end of
2018,” he says.
The Lesedi Skills Development Academy
was established in 2015 to address the need
for skilled artisans and to close the skills gap
in the nuclear and broader energy sector as
well as associated industries. It also
addresses the challenges in providing skilled
artisans with appropriate training and
qualifications to be able to execute projects
in these sectors. The academy learners
engage with apprenticeships, learnerships
and short skills programmes among others.
“Between 2014 to 2016, Atlantis attracted
investment of about R680-million from both
local and international investments which
has led to jobs in the wind, solar energy
efficiency and in other technologies
created,” concludes Minister Davies.
Chief executive officer of Lesedi, Francis
Carruther, says that the academy has
employed 35 learners, who are at various
stages of training within their respective
programme; 33 of the learners are
from Atlantis.
*SEZs are geographically designated
areas of a country that are set aside
for specifically targeted economic
activities. The Special Economic
Zones and Industrial Parks
Programme is run by the dti.