Garden Route Skills Mecca Forum Strengthens Regional Collaboration to Tackle Youth Unemployment

Immediate release
07 October 2025

Last week, the Garden Route District Municipality (GRDM) successfully revived the Garden Route Skills Mecca (GRSM) Forum, to strengthen collaboration among municipalities and stakeholders in advancing skills development across the district.

The forum brings together Skills Development officials from all seven local municipalities to coordinate efforts, share information, and take ownership of opportunities identified through the GRSM. This renewed collaboration marks a significant step towards institutionalising the Skills Mecca model and ensuring that the region’s skills development initiatives are aligned and impactful.

In his opening remarks, Thembani Loliwe, Chairperson of the Forum and GRDM Strategic Manager, highlighted the importance of a united approach to addressing one of the district’s most pressing challenges, which is youth unemployment.

“To strengthen the institutionalisation of the Skills Mecca in the region, it is vital that all municipalities work together to address youth unemployment, which currently stands at a staggering 62%. A regional approach to tackling this pandemic is key and aligns directly with the District Development Planning (DDP) model, which advocates for coordinated regional planning and joint efforts to address shared challenges,” said Loliwe.

He added that municipalities should view the Skills Mecca as a shared service, noting that GRDM and its local municipalities will work together to develop a shared service agreement. This will ensure that the Skills Mecca is not only a concept but becomes integrated into the budget processes of local (B) municipalities, as it already forms part of their Integrated Development Plans (IDPs).

“This platform will also ensure that local municipalities have first-hand access to information on all projects under the Skills Mecca and are included in decision-making processes,” Loliwe explained.

Loliwe further emphasised that the forum aims to improve communication with all stakeholders and provides a platform for meaningful contributions from partners in the skills ecosystem.

During the meeting, Reginald Salmons, GRDM Coordinator for Skills Development, presented both current and historical projects implemented under the GRSM. Representatives from each local municipality also showcased their respective skills development projects and programmes, highlighting local progress and challenges.

The meeting was well-attended by Local Economic Development representatives, Integrated Development and Skills Development Managers, and Coordinators from all municipalities across the district.

As part of the next steps, the Forum will develop a Terms of Reference (ToR) to formalise its operations, reporting structures, and rules of engagement. Additionally, all projects will be mapped across the district to avoid duplication and promote effective coordination.

The next Garden Route Skills Mecca Forum meeting is scheduled to take place from 19 to 20 November 2025, where members will continue strengthening regional cooperation to empower the youth and drive inclusive economic growth.

ENDS