M Mdladlana: Information Technology Trainees' graduation
ceremony

30 July 2007

Programme director
The Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of Information Systems, Electronics and
Telecommunication Technologies Sector Education and Training Authority (ISETT
SETA) Mr Oupa Mopaki
ISSET Board Members and staff
The CEO of Joda Learning Academy Mrs Ranie Pillay and representatives of your
other networks
The Managing Director of Paracon Networking Mr Adriaan Louw and members of your
staff
The Director of Jonda Learning Academy Mr Timothy Tembon and members of your
staff
Our distinguished guests graduating today
Ladies and gentlemen

Good morning

Let me start of by joining the chorus and sing along with other millions of
our people in wishing our beloved and only Rolihlahla Nelson Madiba Mandela a
happy 89th Birthday. As we celebrate his contribution to our country and the
world, let us also take a moment to acknowledge the contribution made by
thousands of other South Africans who were not able to reach his age, including
those young people, men and women who paid a supreme sacrifice.

This ceremony is taking place in the midst of a range of major economic
developments, very serious political debates and major interventions in our
country that I hope, one day when some of the graduates are my age, they will
remember this day. The year 2007 has been one of the very interesting years so
far and I am sure the remaining months will also be full of action. We just had
the African National Congress (ANC) policy conference, the South African
Communist Party (SACP) had its congress, the Democratic Alliance (DA) changed
leadership, we just had a government Lekgotla and there are of course other
developments internationally.

Amongst the debates discussed in some of these forums that may be of
relevance to these young people are issues relating to the creation of jobs and
poverty reduction, addressing youth unemployment, reversing or addressing
skills shortages in our country, how can we improve the quality of our
education and training system, the strikes by workers and demands for a living
wage, the impatience of our people and marches in demand of service delivery
and so on.

We should however be careful on how we express our anger and frustration. We
desist from destroying what is already there, maiming, beating up people or
killing them. Black people are in power and we will be judged by how we carry
ourselves and in turn be discredited by our actions. You are indeed graduating
at a historical moment in our country. What I want to pose to you is: Where are
you in these debates or are they of relevance to you? What are you saying about
some of the issues that are being said about you?

Programme Director, I was made to I understand that this project was also
aimed at addressing the shortage of skills in the Information and
Communications Technology (ICT) sector. It is part of the projects dating back
to May 2004 that I launched at the Sandton Convention Center, as an Employment
and Skills Development Lead Employer (ESDLE) pilot project. Jonda learning
academy was among the organisations that received certificates to serve as a
lead employer (ESDLE) on-behalf of ISETT SETA. I want to take this opportunity
to congratulate JONDA and the Paracon Holdings for your efforts and the
practical experience you provided to these learners to complete their program.
I wish many more companies including small medium enterprise (SME) could take a
leaf from you and follow in your footsteps. You contribution will change the
lives of these learners forever and I pray and hope that it will change for
better.

The major challenge that we face today is that of ensuring that our young
people study in those careers that are identified in the scarce and critical
skills that are in demand or new and emerging occupations. As part of pursuing
the National Skills Development Strategy (NSDS) and Joint Initiative for
Priority Skills Acquisition (Jipsa) goals, we have produced a Scarce and
Critical list of skills that lie at the heart of the binding constraint on
economic growth and development. Setas have also produced scarce skills guides
that highlight the scarce and critical skills needed by their sectors and they
update this information annually. I urge Career Guidance officers, our young
people including those in institutions of higher learning to access these list
from our website including those of Setas and use the information provided in
making better and informed career choices,

Programme Director, Today we are celebrating the success of the National
Skills Development Strategy objective, we are proud that we have contributed
towards the reduction of the ICT industry skills shortage, we are here to also
recognise and acknowledge those host employers who have shown interest and
willingness to participate in the skills development of our nation.

I am told that 130 learners have been placed out of the 180 that started
with the program. The only problem that you will soon learn about me is that
"the more you give me the more I want". My heart goes to the 48 learners that
have not been placed or may have dropped out in the process. I hope that in
your next intake, you will all strive to achieve no less than 99% placement
rate and that there will not be a single learner dropping out of the programme.
I want every cent allocated towards skills development to be put to better
use.

To our graduates today, your completion of this programme shows learner
commitment to the cause of the skills revolution. You are the reason for our
presence here today and you all deserve applause. Let me also thank on your
behalf, your families, who have taken the efforts and did everything in their
power, to support you throughout your learning process. I am sure they also
stand to benefit from your achievements.

Congratulations and thank you

Enquiries:
Zolisa Sigabi
Cell: 082 906 3878
E-mail: zolisa.sigabi@labour.gov.za

Issued by: Department of Labour
30 July 2007
Source: Department of Labour (http://www.labour.gov.za)