African economy
9 July 2007
Labour Minister Membathisi Mdladlana has urged South Africans to invest more
on local skills rather than rely on importing even those that can easily be
developed here.
The Minister was a keynote speaker at the launch of the PPC skills academy
where 21 people from around the country will undergo a unique cement
manufacturing skills training. The skills will give the learners an opportunity
to become globally competitive cement manufacturers. Minister Mdladlana said
that while the government had reconfirmed its commitment to skills empowerment
and quality education for everyone, state-sponsored programmes such as the
Sector Education and Training Authorities (Setas) could only facilitate
training, while the responsibility of providing the actual training lay with
employers.
The current trend of the country producing matriculants at a 400 000 plus
annual rate was the real threat to South Africa's economic growth. "As a
nation, we are actually sitting on a time bomb and need to act swiftly before
this gets out of hand. The continued mass production of unemployable and
unskilled matriculants is a threat to all of us," he said.
He urged employers to emulate the 115 year old cement company's initiative
and provide skills graduates with workplace experience in order to build their
careers.
Enquiries:
Zolisa Sigabi
Cell: 082 906 3878
E-mail: zolisa.sigabi@labour.gov.za
Issued by: Department of Labour
9 July 2007
