exhibition
4 April 2007
The Department of Roads and Transport cordially invites all young people to
a Career Exhibition to be held at the Mthatha Airport on 13 April 2007 at
09h00. The purpose of this exhibition is to expose young people, particularly
those from rural areas of the OR Tambo District in different fields and
opportunities in the transport sector and to broaden their career choices.
There is a general skills shortage in the country, particularly in the
engineering, rail, aviation, maritime and transport economics fields. The
department has established partnerships with various stakeholders, particularly
institutions of higher learning and private sector, for building and growing
transportation skills.
The Department has a medium to long term strategy to grow engineers and
professionals within the transport sector in line with the principles of the
Provincial Growth and Development Plan of promoting sustainable development
through skills development. This will be achieved through offering further
training in Maths and Science, bursaries, learnerships and internships.
Since 2003, 300 bursaries worth more than R3 million have been awarded to
young people of the Eastern Cape to study civil and mechanical engineering,
aviation, transport economics, information technology and traffic law
enforcement. The Department is presently hosting a Maths and Science Project
for the OR Tambo District at the Walter Sisulu University Mthatha Campus, where
13 schools are getting further training in Maths and Science during weekends
and holidays. This programme is also taking place in the Nelson Mandela Metro
in partnership with the Nelson Mandela Metropolitan University and this year it
will expand to the Nkonkobe area in partnership with the University of Fort
Hare.
This year's exhibition will further stimulate the interest of the 2 000
expected local youth on the activities around the Mahatma Airport, which is
currently under renovation under the auspices of the Department's Blue Skyway
Aviation Strategy that seeks to revitalise Bishop and Mahatma Airports and
rural airstrips.
Presently, Mahatma Airport has three scheduled flights a day between Mahatma
and Johannesburg by Air Link. The airport's air traffic volume has increased
from 23% to 30%. Already car rental services are rendered by Avis, Budget and
Imperial at the Airport. Recently, two new fire engines worth R2,5 million have
been purchased to increase the airport's emergency capacity and improve its
grades from four to six.
The Civil Aviation Authority officials are expected to visit the airport
later this month. The national Department of Environmental Affairs and Tourism
has allocated a budget of R28 million for the renovations of this airport and
consultants have already been appointed.
The renovations include:
* new parking area for buses and car hire
* all buildings to be repaired
* new intersection linking with the R61 (work is progress by the Department of
Roads and Transport)
* existing parking to be converted to a pay parking facility.
The programme of the day will feature presentations by the Construction
Sector Education and Training Authority (SETA), 43 Air School, AV8 Helicopters,
Transport Sector Education Training Authority, national Department of Transport
Maritime Unit, Umsobomvu Youth Fund, Eastern Cape Youth Commission, VK3
Engineering, Metrorail, National Ports Authority, Department of Labour,
Spoornet, Algoa Bus Company, Freight Dynamics, South African National Roads
Agency Limited and Civil Aviation Authority.
Members of the media are invited to this event.
Enquiries:
Ncedo Kumbaca
Department for Safety, Liaison, Roads and Transport
Cell: 082 442 2388 or 073 206 6569
Issued by: Department of Roads and Transport, Eastern Cape Provincial
Government
4 April 2007
