In response to a government call for youth development, the Eastern Cape Department of Transport has appointed 89 young unemployed graduates through its internship programme for a period of 12 months.
The interns started their duties on 1 October 2011 and the intention is to address skills shortage, youth unemployment and facilitate entrance into the workplace by providing workplace learning.
The department recruited these unemployed graduates from the Provincial database housed at the Office of the Premier (OTP) and from the departmental database at Head Office and Districts and priority was given mostly to rural unemployed graduates who hardly get opportunities due to them being far from industrial areas and government departments.
The 89 interns have been placed in Districts and Head Office under various Directorates based on their qualifications, e.g.
- Risk Management
- Finance
- Human Resource Management
- Human Resource Development
- Transport Admin and Licensing
- Information Technology
- Communication
- Traffic Control
- Supply Chain Management
- Strategic Planning
- Transport Planning
- Government Fleet Management Service
- Public Transport
- Road Safety
During this 12 month period, these interns will be assigned to mentors who are responsible for coaching, mentoring and supervision.
These young graduates will be subjected to compulsory Public Service Induction programme and a training programme called BB2E (Breaking Barriers to Entry) that is initiated by the Department of Public Service and Administration and facilitated by OTP.
“The aim of the programme is to introduce graduates to the Public Service, empower them with knowledge about the world of work, focusing on Public Service and promote Public Service as the employer of choice,” says Acting General Manager for Corporate Services Ms Nomvuyo Bono.
