Private, Public Partnership Enhancing Services Delivery.
The KZN: Construction MTP002 – National Certificate Building and Civil construction Mass Training project which was funded by the department of environmental affairs and implemented by Pioneer Skills Development Institute in seven local municipalities in KZN. The participants/Learners in this project have undergone a Learnership programmes on Building and Civil construction NQF Level 3, this has seen the youth embarking on endeavors with the aim of contributing to economic development.
This training was implemented under the auspices of EPWP with the main focus on skills development, and it’s also in line with the NDP 2030 outcome for transition to a society which is internationally competitive, equitable, job creating and sustainable. The programme had a total of 125 participants and out of that, 116 completed the course.
The project was implemented in the following local municipalities; Alfred Duma, Edumbe, Ulundi, Umvoti, Ubuhlebezwe, Impendle, and Ukhahlamba. The program was welcomed and embraced by the municipalities and the communities at large, as the skills gained by the learners also benefited the municipality and their communities. In some areas like Ladysmith (Alfred Duma) the learners ploughed back to the community by plastering the house of a community member, Mrs Nomusa Mncube of Driefontein Godi area.
The learners’ representative Mtshali Magalela indicated how he always had passion for Building and Civil construction and this project has assisted him build up towards realization of his dreams. The Municipality was represented by Mr Mxolisi Mazibuko, who vowed to support the participants in making sure that the certificates they received are put into good use, this will be done in a form of giving them access to internet facilities in the Youth Development office and assist them in everything which enable them to breakthrough into the job market.
The reception which this project got was also witnessed through the support of the graduation ceremonies by the political principals of the municipalities, to cite few example, the Ubuhlebeze Local municipality Deputy Mayor Cllr EB Ngubo also graced the event and became the guest speaker, amongst other things she highlighted, was that project of this nature are relevant to the youth and the community at large as they transfer skills which the municipality is in need of, she further encouraged the learners to go out there and sell themselves to their respective communities
and to the municipality. The Deputy Mayor also noted with appreciation the contributions made thought the implementation of this programme because she believes that labor intensive skills like building and civil construction will not be easily affected by the fourth Industrial revolution because they cannot be easily replaced by the ever changing technology.
The learners were represented by Ntombifuthi Tshabalala who reflected on the journey of the Learnership as a challenging and beneficial programme because it has changed their lives amazingly, they also noted how the stipend positively contributed towards their families’ livelihoods as they were not solely using it for their transport but it also assisted in making ends meet for the duration of the project. She also noted that having built a house for one impoverished household is something they will take pride and cherish forever.
In Umvoti Local Municipality the graduations event was also covered in the Greytown Gazette News Paper on the 29th May 2019 the Newspaper article is attached below. The Political principals at Ulundi Local municipality were also rallying behind this initiative. The Mayor Cllr NJ Manana was the guest speaker and uttered words of encouragement to the learners encouraged the learners to break away from the mentality of looking for employment and aim to be employers, she also applauded the women in this project for having undergone the Building and Civil construction training which the field was historically male dominated. This programme will leave a long-lasting legacy in the municipality, some of the learners are now applying the skills they acquired to improve their lives, one learner at this municipality by the name of Samkelisiwe Zwane has built a garden wall at her house as a way of showcasing her building and civil construction skills.
Different municipalities expressed their gratitude in different ways, In Edumbe local Municipality the Mayor Cllr Kunene has indicated that the municipal council will soon have business management workshops which these graduates will be part of as a way of empowering them. The municipality has also announced that all the Learnership alumni will be subcontracted during the building of 600 low cost housing units in the next municipal financial year. The learners’ representative, NgwenyaLinda also expressed her indebtedness to the municipality for selecting them to be part of this valuable programme.
This initiative had a buy in from the municipality and the community, this has been witnessed by the attendance by both parents and the political principals. The official, Cllr Zulu became the guest speaker and outlined some of the plans around the area, which included the construction of an
FET college and indicated that the skills the learners have will contribute immensely during this project.
Below are the pictures of the event
Umvoti Local Municipality
Alfred Duma (Ladysmith)
