MInister Thulas Nxesi was part of R551 million programme launch for job creation in KZN. Photo: GCIS
R551 million set aside by UIF partnership for job creation project
Minister Thulas Nxesi recently launched training programmes in KwaZulu-Natal worth R551 million aimed at assisting 19 921 beneficiaries.
MInister Thulas Nxesi was part of R551 million programme launch for job creation in KZN. Photo: GCIS
Minister of Employment and Labour Thulas Nxesi was part of the launch of three training programmes in the KwaZulu-Natal province. The programmes are focused on skills development, job creation and support for entrepreneurs.
The R551 million job creation launch in Durban
The programmes were launched just before the weekend at the University of KwaZulu-Natal (UKZN) in Durban. They are aiming for job creation within the fibre optics, mixed farming and food handling sectors.
This follows the news that the Unemployment Insurance Fund (UIF) entered into a partnership with the Fuze Institute for Humanitarian Praxis.
What will the 19,921 beneficiaries be trained in?
A statement released by the government revealed that through the UIF’s Labour Activation Programmes (LAP), R551 million has been set aside for the three job creation projects that will benefit 19 921 people.
70% of the beneficiaries are previous UIF contributors who, unfortunately, lost their employment. They are to go through training in the following areas:
- 14,771 Cheif Food Handlers
- 5,000 Enterprise Development
- 150 Fibre Optic Technicians
Some beneficiaries of the R551 million job creation programmes are employed
While at the launch, FUZE CEO Thandi Ngcobo shared that `14,771 beneficiaries had already been employed by the KZN Department of Education following the completion of their training.
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She further stated that KZN’s Economic Development, Tourism and Environmental Affairs Department has vowed to lend its support to the 5,000 beneficiaries of the R551 million programmes through the purchasing of farming produce.
Link Africa, a local fibre network operator, has pledged to employ the 150 beneficiaries mentioned above as technicians in the company after their training.
Minister Nxesi discusses unemployment in SA
Minister Nxesi addressed the launch of the job creation project where he stated that efforts like these should be welcomed, due to the high unemployment levels in the country.
“In light of the added ‘Employment’ mandate to our Department, we are urging the private sector and all potential stakeholders to partner with us to reduce and end unemployment in the country, partnerships are key to creating jobs,” he said.
Previous beneficiaries of the R551 million programmes share their stories
Bayanda Zaca shared that he worked odd jobs in construction before starting the training programmes. He is now a head chef at a well-known restaurant in Durban thanks to the culinary training he went through.
He stated that he is assisting trainees at the Ndwedwe based food processing centre, adding that he is grateful that he was part of the programme.
Another person who benefitted from the training programme is Lethabo Tsonope. She is now a pilot for FlySafair and cannot believe that her dream came true.
