The Minister of Cooperative Governance and Traditional Affairs, Desmond van Rooyen on Tuesday closed off the youth month with a bang by distributing protective clothing and working tools to 61 apprentices at Matlosana Technical and Vocational Education Training College (TVET) in Klerksdorp. 59 of the apprentices are electricians whilst the other two are learners in the fitter and turner trade.
These apprentices are part of the Municipal Infrastructure Support Agent’s (MISA) Artisan Development Programme which is intended to provide trainees with theoretical training, hands-on experience and trade-setting in order for them to qualify as artisans. Once an apprentice is certified as competent to perform a listed trade, in accordance with the provisions of the Skills Development Act, such a learner becomes an artisan.
Speaking during the hand-over ceremony, Minister van Rooyen said MISA has trained 372 apprentices throughout the country towards qualifying as artisans in various trades critical for municipal infrastructure delivery and management. He said the objective of the artisan programme is to increase the number of skilled artisans in municipalities, with the view of strengthening municipal technical capabilities.
‘’The country is experiencing a very low return on investment with regards to the artisan development programme. Government invests billions of rands into this programme – the National Treasury expenditure and performance report of 2014 found that the average cost of training and artisan is R400 000 and this confirms that the artisan development programme is very expensive’’, he said.
He appealed to MISA to prioritise learner contracting and placement in municipalities as well as timeous supply of basic enablers such as protective clothing and tools of trade.
MISA was established by the Department of Cooperative Governance and Traditional Affairs in May 2012 as a special purpose vehicle aimed at providing support and strengthening municipalities in their technical capabilities in terms of infrastructure planning, delivery, operations and maintenance.
Enquiries:
Ben Bole (Departmental Spokesperson)
Cell: 071 566 1399
E-mail: msbole@nwpg.gov.za
Facebook: North West Department of Local Government and Human Settlements
Instagram: nwlghs
Twitter: @nwlghs
