Eastern Cape public representatives (councillors, municipal officials and traditional leaders) were officially capped with a human settlement qualification after they completed Short Learning Programmes with the Nelson Mandela Metropolitan University. The representatives are from Sarah Baartman region, Joe Gqabi district and Buffalo City Metro.
They are part of the 94 students who enrolled in the Short Learning Programmes launched last year with the Nelson Mandela University. 42 participants graduated at Kouga Local Municipality today. The remaining students will graduate next week in Matatiele.
“The fact that this programme has been able to attract councillors and traditional leaders underpins the significant role of the programme within the human settlements environment and the communities we serve. The Short Learning Programmes are very important to advance the human settlements development for the benefit of communities at a local level. The professionalisation of the sector through various academic programmes is a much needed intervention which will further enhance human settlements Programmes and delivery in the Province,” said MEC for Human Settlements Helen Sauls-August.
Deputy Minister of Human Settlements, Ms Zou-Kota Fredericks was pleased at the success of the programme. “We are excited to arrive at this point of graduating human settlements practitioners. It was critical that we change the mindset from housing policy into new human settlements policy. This partnership with the university does reach the objectives of professionalizing the sector. We are moving into establishing a professional body to regulate the sector,” she said.
Chair of Human Settlements Degree at the Nelson Mandela Metropolitan University, Professor Sjekula Mbanga hailed the project as a huge success. “As a university we are not grounded in campuses, we will implement this programme in districts to be exposed on community issues. The programme will enable adequate oversight on Human Settlements work,” he said.
The Short Learning Programme was launched last November as part of Hands-On-Support provided to all Municipalities, Traditional Leaders and officials. It forms part of professionalising the Human Settlements Sector to create better planning that will result in better cities and villages in the Province. The community representatives learned in various fields such as sustainable human settlements, land policy and legislation and construction management.
Enquiries:
Lwandile Sicwetsha
Tel:043 711 9679
E-mail: lwandiles@ecdhs.gov.za
