The Department of Trade and Industry (the dti), in partnership with the Ekurhuleni West College launched the Centre for Entrepreneurship (CfE) at the Ekurhuleni West College (EWC) campus in Katlehong today. The Centre forms part of the dti’s initiative to primarily target Further Education and Training (FET) institutions to promote entrepreneurship education, training and development.
The Ekurhuleni Centre is the product of a five-year Memorandum of Agreement between the dti and the Ekurhuleni West College where the institution is funded by the department to implement entrepreneurship courses. Targeted students will comprise of current and former students who are unemployed, and also disadvantaged individuals from communities within the Ekurhuleni Metropolitan Municipality.
The Deputy Minister of Trade and Industry, Ms Elizabeth Thabethe said that Entrepreneurship Centres form part of the dti’s priority of decreasing youth unemployment and increasing the development of small enterprises. She explained that this is achieved by fostering strategic collaboration with educational institutions to deliver on this mandate through the hosting of Centres for Entrepreneurship.
“It is important to note that these Centres share the dti’s vision of supporting economic growth with equity and employment creation and the belief that entrepreneurship promotion is at the core of economic growth stimulation. This intervention bears evidence to our commitment to ensure that small businesses and black businesses specifically, progressively increase their participation in the economy and their contribution to the broader development objectives of the country,” she said.
Thabethe said that the strategic collaboration with the college signifies the intention to provide the much needed link between entrepreneurship education and technical skills as provided by FET colleges.
“Further, our partnership with the college also bears testimony to the fact that collectively we seek to develop, promote and improve the culture of entrepreneurship among students and the community at large,” she added.
The Principal Ekurhuleni West College, Ms Helen Ntlatleng added that once the Centre is fully operational and the two programmes are established, consideration will be given to expanding into plumbing and an incubation programme.
“We will play our role in pursuit of uplifting the community of Katlehong by ensuring that we churn out well-equipped, technically astute and competent entrepreneurs. I hope this place will be treated as a source of hope by our community,” she said.
Programmes offered at the institution will help develop the students’ proficiency in practical skills of waste management and welding. Students will also be provided with knowledge and understanding of entrepreneurship and the establishment of Small, Medium and Micro Enterprises. The Centre will expose students to technology and work environments that extend beyond the practical environment.
The Deputy Director-General for Broadening Participation Division in the dti, Mr Sipho Zikode pledged that the department will partner with the college to establish an incubation programme.
Caption: Deputy Minister Elizabeth Thabethe officially opens the Centre for Entrepreneurship at Ekurhuleni West College
Enquiries:
Sidwell Medupe, Departmental Spokesperson
Tel: 012 394 1650
Cell: 079 492 1774
E-mail: MSMedupe@thedti.gov.za
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