By Kopano Dibakwane
Mpumalanga premier,Refilwe Mtshweni-Tsipane, signed a memorandum of understanding (MOU) with TVET(technical and vocational education and training) colleges, SETA’s (sector education and training authorities) and FET’s( further education and training institutions), during a job massification and enhanced skills development stakeholders engagement, which was attended by dignitaries such as deputy minister of higher education-Buti Manamela, in Mbombela this week.
In her keynote address, the premier said that signing of the MOU is a significant milestone in the provincial government’s attempt to make skills development a reality in the province of Mpumalanga.
” Today marks a day where we intend to demonstrate how we are giving effect to commitments made in this year’ state of the province address(SOPA) about job massification and partnerships for the delivery of skills and empowerment for job seekers, particularly the youth,” said Mtshweni-Tsipane.
She said that the provincial government refuses to fold its arms in the face of rising unemployment figures, both in Mpumalanga and nationally. According to the premier, job massification will involve thousands of job opportunities that are being created thorough infrastructure, social programmes, partnerships with various SETA’s in various trades such as; diesel mechanical engineering, construction, supply chain management, ICT(information communication technology), local government and hospitality.
” The unemployment rate for youth of working age (15-34 years) was 52.1%, whereas the unemployment rate of adults(35-64 years) was 27.2%. Notably, the female youth unemployment rate of 61.5% was significantly higher than the male youth unemployment rate of 44.6%.
” In this financial year alone, we are targeting some 90 000 job opportunities. Together with our municipalities, we will create strategic partnerships to ensure that our people get employment opportunities that they desperately need,” said Mtshweni-Tsipane.
She also touched on energy insecurities(load shedding), the conflict in Ukraine, geo-political tensions between countries, rising cost of living, bottlenecks in supply chains, reduced carbon emissions, the impact of rising temperatures and extreme weather events due to climate change, the Mpumalanga economic reconstruction and recovery plan which is reportedly aimed at creating sustainable job opportunities in the short to medium term.
Other dignitaries and government entities at the event included; Mpumalanga provincial government director-general-Makhukhu Mampuru, Mbombela executive mayor-Sibongile Makusha-Mazibuko, representatives from the banking sector and other business communities in Mpumalanga, MTPA(Mpumalanga tourism and parks agency), MRTT(Mpumalanga regional training trust), to name but a few.
