M Mdladlana: Thuthuka graduation ceremony

10 May 2007

Programme Director,
The CEO of FASSET Ms Cheryl James
The FASSET Chairperson Ms Mposeng Tlabane and other members of the FASSET Board
present here today
Chairperson of the Thuthuka Trust Mr Ajen Sita and other trustees
Representatives of both University of Limpopo and Fort Hare
Our most important distinguished guests graduating today
Ladies and gentlemen

Five years ago, at the very beginnings of our skills revolution, I launched
a group of projects called strategic projects with a total investment in skills
development totalling R1,2 billion. Three years later (March 2005) I was
pleased with that noble effort. I can confidently report to this gathering the
following:
Of the R1,2 billion I committed in 2002, R883 million (74%) was disbursed
towards projects implemented by 17 Sectoral Education and Training Authorities
(SETAs) and collectively the 17 SETAs ensured that
* 44 838 learners have benefited from adult basic education and training and
other programmes at NQF Level 1
* 35 943 people received additional skills from structured learning
programmes
* a total of 21 107 small, medium and micro enterprises received skills and
other interventions including mentoring
* 9 332 learners will receive nationally recognised learnership
qualifications
* The 17 projects have collectively achieved a learner profile that is 95%
black, 55% women and 0,05% people with disability

The Thuthuka Upliftment Project, under whose banner we are gathered today,
was one of the projects that benefited from this investment. Initially funded
to the tune of R62 million in Eastern Cape, the project was later extended to
the provinces of KwaZulu-Natal and Limpopo with additional funding of R76m.
This brings the department's investment in the Thuthuka Project alone to R139
million of which R127m (91%) was effectively and efficiently spent to benefit
amongst others some of the learners and their educators present in this room. I
want to take this opportunity to commend the SETA for Finance, Accounting,
Management Consulting and other Financial Services (FASSET), South African
Institute of Chartered Accountants (SAICA), the University of Fort Hare, the
University of Limpopo, and all the schools that worked closely with you for the
excellent co-operation and working relations we had with you.

I have committed the Department of Labour through the National Skills
development Strategy to deal with skills shortage and challenges in our country
from many fronts. The battle lines were drawn as early as May 2001 when I
launched the country's first National Skills Development Strategy. Since then,
we have marched from strength to strength. Our tactics involved a direct
frontal attack on skills deficiencies through programmes such as learnerships,
internships, apprenticeships and bursaries. On the other hand we also tackled
root causes of skills deficiencies through interventions at formal education
level, Adult Basic Education and Training and various skills programmes. Our
involvement and support to the Thuthuka Initiative should be understood in this
context.

I must caution though that despite this noble progress, we have not yet won
the war against skills deficiencies despite waging a ferocious battle over the
last five years. I, for one, was never under any illusion that this war will be
over soon. I am proud however that we have made strides in strengthening our
tactics in this battlefield. We have for example robust institutional
mechanisms in the form of policies, the levy system, SETAs and the National
Science Foundation. This is complemented by partnerships with professional
bodies such as SAICA, public institutions such as further education and
training colleges, universities. We are therefore confident to march gallantly
forward knowing that the enemy positions have been compromised and can be
easily exploited.

One of the things that pre-occupied my mind before coming here has to do
with the future and what is in the mind of the organisers of this event. I know
that some of you are having question marks and maybe are tempted to ask whether
our relationship with the Thuthuka Initiative will continue or not given the
success of this project?. Let me put you at ease by saying we will continue to
support the accountancy profession through two interventions.

The first involves a relationship we have entered with the University of
Fort Hare to increase the pool of chartered accountants in the country. This
programme builds on the solid foundation set by the initial Thuthuka Upliftment
Project. I am told that SAICA will continue to provide Fort Hare with technical
support to ensure that their programme continue to meet the stringent standards
set by the accountancy profession. To this end we have made an initial
investment of R18m to this project

The second aspect involves continued support of the Thuthuka Project in the
University of Limpopo. I am told that SAICA will continue to partner with the
University of Limpopo to ensure that their BCompt programme receive
accreditation status with the professional body.

Despite all these adjustments in the funding arrangements of this programme,
it remains my sincere belief and hope that the Thuthuka trustees, SAICA, FASSET
and all the affected schools will continue to work together in the near future
in producing quality students who can follow the chartered accounting career
field. I also hope that you will do your level best to ensure that employers
within the Financing Sector take on these learners for further learning within
their workplaces and will not leave them to waist given the kind of investment
we have made. Families of these young people have sacrificed a lot and did
everything in their power to support all these learners throughout their
learning process. I follows that they have high expectations beyond these
graduation and let us not disappoint them.

Programme Director, as we celebrate the history and achievement of this
noble project we need to be thinking about the future. This future is expressed
in the potential we have uncovered in these young people. Through the Thuthuka
Initiative we have set them on a platform where they will continue to pursue
their dreams in the Chartered Accountancy profession. To the young people who
are about to receive certificates and diplomas today, the future is awaiting
your contribution. Our economy needs skills in the accountancy fields for it to
continue to grow. Thathani amathuba anikezwa ngu hulumende ni zi
thuthukise.

Congratulations. I thank you

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

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