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WARM greetings to all readers of this viewpoint. Dear reader, welcome once again to our weekly update column.
Youth benefit from learnership programme
A total of 95 youths from disadvantaged communities in Matatiele are being empowered through a learnership programme on business administration and project management. The 12-month programme is viewed as a temporary measure to reduce poverty and unemployment among the youth. This was realised when Matatiele Local Municipality, in partnership with Services Seta held induction for pupils, who were given the opportunity to develop their skills. The induction was held on May 8 at Matatiele Town Hall.
Cllr Thembeka Dyantyi, the portfolio head for corporate services, said they targeted unemployed youth from rural areas.
“This skills development programme will surely equip the unemployed youths. I’m happy that the rural youth has responded to this call. They are the ones beset with many challenges.”
They are faced with abject poverty, teenage pregnancy, crime, alcohol and drug abuse.
“We are planning to bring as many skills development projects as we can. This is the first biggest project we have ever rolled out as the municipality and I ask all beneficiaries to take it serious,” said Dyantyi.
Chapter 9 of the National Development Plan stresses that a diverse set of private, workplace and community-based providers should be supported to offer targeted work-based training, as well as community and youth development programmes. Sector Education and Training Authorities should play a more effective role in the production of skills that are required to meet the immediate needs of employers.
Sebata Municipal Solutions is administering the programme and Volvo, NOSA and ADR Distributors are partnering with government in this move to address skills shortages.
Yonela Nkunzi from Ward 10, one of the beneficiaries said: “I am very happy about this opportunity presented to me by government. It was very frustrating to sit at home doing nothing.”
The learnership programme will commence with a theory until September and practical work will start in May 2018. It will also provide pupils with a monthly stipend of R1 500 over 12 months.
“I am so excited about this learnership. I see it as access to being an entrepreneur, something I’ve always dreamed of,” said Mawethu Magadla from Ward 7.
Update on proposal to move Matatiele to KZN
The motion to move Matatiele from the Eastern Cape to KwaZulu-Natal has been a topical issue over the past few weeks. To give an update on the matter, Matatiele Local Municipality mayor, Cllr Momelezi Mbedla called a media briefing on Monday the May 8.
At the briefing he said the process is a political matter between two parties and when the process is concluded it will be translated into government processes.
“As the leadership of the Matatiele Local Municipality, we have noted the latest developments with regards to the matter. I must point out that at this stage, this is not a government decision, but a political discussion between the African Independent Congress and African National Congress,” he said.
After agreeing to a political coalition which allowed the ruling ANC to retain some municipalities following the local government elections, the African Independent Congress and ANC signed a memorandum of understanding outlining a process to reverse the move, which took place in 2005 (moving Matatiele from KZN to Eastern Cape). The agreement is to start a consultation process in Parliament, and later cascade it down to the people of Matatiele.
Cllr Mbedla assured the people of Matatiele that as council, their mandate is to transform the lives of the people of Matatiele.
“We have decided as the council to allow the consultation process to continue. In our meetings with the national leadership, we have assured them of our participation in the procedure. We have also agreed that we will not disturb the process. So we shall wait for the outcome, to act on it.”
Maluti Civic Centre not available for use
The Maluti Civic Centre is, unfortunately, unavailable for public use until further notice. This is due to non-availability of electricity at the centre. The municipality is waiting for Eskom to provide electricity before the hall can be used and hired out. We apologise for any inconvenience
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