GRDM Advances Skills Development Agenda

30 April 2026

On 29 April 2026, the Garden Route District Municipality (GRDM), together with organised labour represented by IMATU and SAMWU, signed the GRDM Workplace Skills Plan (WSP) for the 2026/27 financial year. This annual process reflects GRDM’s ongoing commitment to addressing institutional skills gaps.

The municipality also implements a similar approach externally through the Garden Route Skills Mecca Initiative in collaboration with several Sector Education and Training Authority (SETA) entities, amongst others.

Management and unions will implement the new financial year’s WSP from 1 July 2026. The consultation and final consensus followed a series of engagements with various GRDM departments, during which training requirements were consolidated into a single, workable plan.

Caption: GRDM, IMATU, and SAMWU come together to sign the 2026/27 Workplace Skills Plan.

Looking ahead, the Garden Route District Training Committee resolved to enhance WSP planning cycles and strengthen transparency and accountability. Representing the unions, IMATU’s Bonisile Desha said, “Continuous monitoring and evaluation are vital in this process.

“Receiving progress reports on a bi-monthly basis will enable us, as unions, to take stock of these developments.”

He added, “We want to be transparent about the number of employees and ensure that the allocated budget is spent accordingly.” The unions further stressed the importance of ensuring that all employees requiring skills development interventions benefit, enabling them to contribute positively to the workplace.

Caption: A collaborative step forward as GRDM and labour partners align on skills development priorities for 2026/27.

 GRDM Skills and Training Manager, Regional Salmons, emphasised that while skills development is mandatory for the GRDM, employee engagement is vital for the WSP to drive growth rather than just meet compliance.

Salmons noted that the annual submission of the Workplace Skills Plan (WSP) and Annual Training Report (ATR) to LGSETA by April 30th is essential, as it unlocks mandatory and discretionary funding for the municipality.

Feature image caption: GRDM strengthens its commitment to workforce development with the signing of the 2026/27 Workplace Skills Plan.

ENDS