25 August 2022 Media Release: 35 Learners from Garden Route district to gain practical experience at local municipalities

Media Release: 35 Learners from Garden Route district to gain practical experience at local municipalities

For immediate release
25 August 2022

Three (3) local municipalities in the Garden Route district, including Garden Route District Municipality (GRDM), recently placed 35 Cape Peninsula University Technology (CPUT) learners in service to gain practical training in several fields.

The training forms part of a Memorandum of Understanding between the Garden Route District Municipality (GRDM), Cape Peninsula University of Technology (CPUT) and PSETA, aimed at upskilling learners at Local Government level and provide them with practical training. GRDM, on the other hand, needs to sign agreements with Bitou-, Knysna-, and Hessequa Municipalities in order to host these learners.

Last year, 14 learners were placed at municipalities in the district after CPUT received funding from PSETA. At a meeting between the PSETA representatives in March 2022, when the group of students individually shared their work-based experiences, the PSETA representative commented: “After listening to the testimonies of young people, I can confirm that we invested correctly; you did well by utilising students for the purpose which the program was created for.” The contracts of students ended in May 2022.

After further consultation with PSETA, funding was availed to accommodate these learners for an additional six (6) months, and this time around, 23 more learners were added to the programme.

GRDM was appointed to coordinate the project, which includes supporting each learner through monitoring, evaluation, coaching, and mentoring. Reporting progress to CPUT and PSETA on a regular basis is also required. However, the skills development facilitators within the b-municipalities will assist with the coordination of learners within each municipality.

Learners were enrolled on a Certificate in Public Administration course with CPUT which will provide them with a SAQA ID 91994 Occupational Qualification in Public Office Administrator. Each learner was also provided with a laptop and data on a monthly basis.

The learners were placed as follows:

12 Learners – Garden Route District Municipality
11 Learners – Bitou Municipality
10 Learners – Knysna Municipality
2 Learners – Hessequa Municipality

This project is part of the Garden Route Skills Mecca programme. To learn more about it, visit skillsmecca.gardenroute.gov.za

Photo caption:  Learners stationed at GRDM who gain practical experience in the different departments at the municipality.