Category: <span>Skills Mecca</span>

11 August 2022 Media Release:  GRDM Fire Fighting Training accreditation – check marked

Media Release:  GRDM Fire Fighting Training accreditation – check marked

11 August 2022
For Immediate Release

The Garden Route District Municipality (GRDM) has achieved a significant milestone for applying to the Quality Council for Trades and Occupations (QCTO) to become an accredited Skills Development Provider for Fire Fighting Training. When successful the milestone will implicate that GRDM can offer training, in particular, for a National Occupational Qualification of Firefighters, NQF-4.

According to the GRDM Executive Manager for Corporate Services, Trix Holtzhausen: “QCTO is one of three National Quality Councils that have the statutory authority to accredit teaching and learning programme providers in the country”.

“QCTO accredits all occupational programmes from NQF 1 to NQF 8, a role previously performed by SETAs but now centralised under QCTO,” she said.

This significant achievement was realised on Tuesday, 2 August 2022 when the District Firefighting Training Centre of GRDM was audited and verified by representatives of QCTO. This was the first milestone in a series of processes that will allow GRDM to become a nationally, and possibly internationally recognized organisation for its expertise in disaster management, firefighting, law enforcement and traffic control.

According to Dr Florus Prinsloo, Skills Mecca Coordinator: “The Garden Route Skills Mecca (GRSM) and Training Unit of the GRDM facilitated the accreditation process”. According to Dr Prinsloo, this is one of many resolutions of the Garden Route Skills Summit of 2019. The theme was to “continue and accelerate collaboration and cooperation among all District skills development role players.” Dr Florus Prinsloo also commented on the accreditation process for the GRSM Fire Fighting team, saying that, in his over eighteen years of working with skills development, including accreditation processes, this process was a real pleasure because of the commitment from the GRDM leadership and staff. GRDM’s investment in their people to become qualified OD-ETDP Practitioners was a major factor in this accreditation process, and they deserve high praise for growing their own timber.

This achievement is also a critical step in the process for the construction and operationalisation of a modern sustainable multi-purpose Training Academy. Funding was already made available by Belgium’s Flanders Government, through close collaboration with the National Department of Forestry, Fisheries and Environment. The academy will be designed and constructed over the next eighteen months and be located in the Garden Route.

Holtzhausen expressed her appreciation for the Fire Fighting Team led by Johan Brand, Deon Stoffels and Brian Afrikander. Additionally, she commended her Training and Development Unit led by Reginald Salmons and Angeline Naidoo for their support and hard work, as well as Jessica Erasmus from the GRDM Community Services Department for her role in populating the detailed Learning Programme Matrix and demonstrating the use of the Collaborator System as a home-grown Learner Management System.

According to Holtzhausen, the envisaged plans for the GRDM Training Academy Programme Qualification Mix Academy include not only accredited Fire Fighting Training. “We will also offer training in Wildfire Management, Veld Fire Management, Law Enforcement, Traffic Control and Disaster Management. These are all highly specialised knowledge domains that the Municipalities in the Garden Route district have exceptional expertise in.”

DISCUSSIONS WITH NELSON MANDELA UNIVERSITY

Discussions are also taking place between the GRDM Skills Mecca team and the George Campus of Nelson Mandela University (NMU) to see how these programmes can be aligned to the existing Veld Fire Management Programmes offered at the University. This will allow for significant sharing of expertise and resources between the two partners and provide career development opportunities for many employed and unemployed persons in the Garden Route.

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28 June 2022 Media Release: Expanded Public Works Programme (EPWP) and SASSETA visit GRDM

Media Release: Expanded Public Works Programme (EPWP) and SASSETA visit GRDM

28 June 2022
For Immediate Release 

An Expanded Public Works Programme (EPWP) delegation consisting of national and provincial officials visited the Garden Route District Municipality (GRDM) on 13 and 14 June 2022. The aim of the two-day visit was to learn more about the Garden Route Skills Mecca (GRSM) model and to investigate the possibility of replicating the Skills Mecca concept in other parts of the country.

On the first day, representatives from GRSM and the GRDM EPWP section accompanied the delegation on several site visits to training centres in the area that support the GRSM. Delegates visited Cheeba Africa, African Skills and François Ferreira Academy where they were given thorough insights of each facility and the type of training provided.  Through several Sector Education and Training Authority (SETA) grants and EPWP programmes, learners have successfully completed courses at the training centres visited by delegates and have been able to enter the job market.

The second day was reserved for engagement.  Lusanda Menze (GRDM Executive Manager:: Planning and Economic Development) gave an overview of GRDM and its Growth and Development Strategy and Dr Florus Prinsloo (GRSM Coordinator) gave a comprehensive overview of the GRSM model.

Tsholofelo Pooe from National EPWP presented on the their EPWP Training Framework and possible linkages to the Garden Route Skills Mecca.

MOU between GRSM and SASSETA discussed.

Joining the delegation on the second day, were Chris Mudau and Thamsanqa Mdontswa from the Safety and Security SETA (SASSETA). After listening to the presentations given by GRDM and GRSM, they presented on the SETA’s mandate, Skills Development Levy (SDL) breakdown, and strategic scope amongst other topics.

SASSETA’s sub-sections and constituencies include:

  • Policing
  • Corrections
  • Justice
  • Defence
  • Intelligence Activities
  • Legal Services
  • Private Security and Investigation Activities

There are 17 SDL contributors in the Garden Route, which comprises law firms and security companies.  It is for this reason that SASSETA and GRDM will enter into talks to establish an MOU that will see closer cooperation with GRSM.

The two-day delegation visit was concluded with a visit to Calitzdorp Hot Springs where a Security Training Centre has been established through formal partnership between BM Skills Development (who is a SASSETA Accredited Training Provider) and the GRDM.

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13 June 2022 Media Release: Garden Route Skills Mecca Focuses on Renewable Energy

Media Release: Garden Route Skills Mecca Focuses on Renewable Energy

For Immediate Release
13 June 2022

The fifth quarterly Garden Route Skills Mecca (GRSM) Forum was held virtually on in May 2022 and focused on renewable energy strategies for the Garden Route.

This follows a fruitful engagement Garden Route District Municipality (GRDM) had with the Energy & Water Sector Education Training Authority  (EWSETA) on Tuesday, 17 May 2022.  During the engagement, EWSETA expressed its desire to support renewable energy projects in the Garden Route, which is in line with its support of Just Energy Transition (JET),  Deutsche Gesellschaft für Internationale Zusammenarbeit GmbH (GIZ), and the work done in South Africa by The South African Photovoltaic Industry Association (SAPVIA).

EWSETA has a significant demand-based focus, and it is important for them to determine what the needs are of employers and businesses. They receive a limited skills levy income and need to partner with other agencies to address this challenge. This is why they’ve agreed soon enter into a memorandum of understanding with GRDM.

During his opening remarks, the GRSM Forum chairperson, Ald. De Vries remarked that renewable energy is gaining momentum as countries around the world are increasingly understanding the benefits it offers.

During the forum, Mr. Warrick Pierce, Technical Leader on Energy Systems Modeling at the Energy Centre of CSIR, presented the Draft Municipal Electricity Master Plan for the GRDM. The Draft document was funded by GIZ and co-funded by the CSIR and is considered to be a mini Integrated Resource Plan (IRP).

Mr. Pierce noted that the plan looks at different possible energy futures and the employment opportunities it may hold. Furthermore, the plan’s focus is twofold as it looks at each municipality individually in the region and the Garden Route as a whole to achieve optimisation.

To draft plan addresses issues of future demand usage and that municipalities need to know their customers – their past behaviors towards energy and how this is changing in terms of self-generation.  There seems to be clear indication that Solar PV is the priority option for the Garden Route to consider. The Draft Energy Master Plan will be tabled to the GRDM Council this month for adoption and a media release about it will be issued.

The final presentation was done by Kirsten Freimann, from GIZ, who is the Head of Project: Career Path Development for Employment (CPD4E), which is a new 3-year program that started in June.

The program aims to address two major concerns identified by GIZ, which are the economic recession and the high youth unemployment rate plaguing South Africa. With the help of the Swiss Development Agency, The German Ministry for Economic Cooperation and Development Government was able to raise €10.5 million for the project.

CPDE4E strives to improve the employability of the youth by unlocking employment potentials by supporting entrepreneurship and SME development in township economies, as well as (ecologic) industrial parks.

The transition from learning to earning will be done by matching soft skills with entrepreneurship training with specific measures in place for girls and women.

Demand-driven TVET/ skills development will improve delivery capacities, through lecturers, in-company mentors, short skills programs, new occupational profiles, and curricula development. It is anticipated that it will strengthen private sector involvement in agile training interventions. This could lead to job creation and meeting demands.

13 June 2022 Opportunities For Unemployed Youth in the Western Cape

Opportunities For Unemployed Youth in the Western Cape

13 June 2022

The Western Cape Government has several opportunities for unemployed youth in the province. Please find all the details below, or visit the following link for more information.

Please contact the designated persons on each advertisement/application should you have any queries. Garden Route District Municipality will not be able to answer any queries regarding the adverts.

West Coast

Overberg

Garden Route

City of Cape Town

City of Cape Town (1)

Central Karoo

Cape Winelands

15 March 2022 Media Release: NYDA Focusses on Youth Development In The Garden Route

Media Release: NYDA Focusses on Youth Development In The Garden Route

15 March 2022
For immediate release

 

The second keynote speaker at the first Garden Route Skills Mecca for 2022 was Tshepo Manyama – Regional Manager of the National Youth Development Agency (NYDA) Western Cape. He outlined NYDA’s skills development plans, opportunities, and needs that support youth development in the Garden Route.

NYDA is a South African-based agency established primarily to address challenges faced by the nation’s youth. The youth development agency was established by an Act of Parliament (Act 54 of 2008) to be a single, unitary structure addressing youth development issues at the National, Provincial and Local Government levels. The Agency should be seen within the broad context of South Africa’s development dynamics.

During Manyama’s presentation, he outlined their economic participation goal, which is to enhance the contribution of young people to the economy through targeted and integrated programs.

He added that programs created by the NYDA aims to facilitate and provide employment opportunities for the youth and to include them in the economy.

The implementation of this goal is at the following strategic objectives:

  • To provide socio-economic empowerment interventions and support for young people in South Africa
  • To provide increased universal access to young people

NYDA runs several economic programs that include:

  • Grant funding R1 000.00 to R10 000.00
  • Business Consultancy Services
  • Sales Pitch and BBBEE Training
  • Business Management Training
  • Mentorship
  • Market Linkages

On youth with disabilities, Manyama had the following to say: “Young people with disabilities are not homogenous as there are different disabilities that require different interventions. The sector representing youth with disabilities proposes the establishment of a disability unit at the NYDA to undertake to facilitate all programs aimed at transforming the lives of youth with disabilities.”

He concluded his presentation by stressing the importance of eradicating discrimination and stigmas against people with disabilities and increasing economic opportunities for them.

Access to education is limited and inadequate and this needs to be addressed. Integration of people with disabilities will also need to be addressed as there is a tendency of lumping them together despite their different needs.

15 March 2022 Media Release: Growth And Development Of The Agricultural Sector In The Garden Route

Media Release: Growth And Development Of The Agricultural Sector In The Garden Route

15 March 2022
For immediate release

Clyde Lamberts from the Western Cape Department of Agriculture was invited to speak at the first Garden Route Skills Mecca (GRSM) Forum of 2022 and his focus was on the growth and development strategy of the department for the Garden Route. He opened his comprehensive presentation with the following quote by Allan Savory:

“Agriculture is not crop production as popular belief holds – it’s the production of food and fiber from the world’s land and waters. Without agriculture, it is impossible to have a city, stock market, banks, university, church or army. Agriculture is the foundation of civilization and any stable economy”.  

To put this quote into perspective, Lamberts shared one of the Department’s recent success stories: A farm in Herald was in a dilapidated state due to a lack of interest in purposing the land. A businessman who was passionate about farming bought it, and spent the next five (5) years turning it into a viable business that now produces honeybush and proteas. He is the first black commercial farmer to produce honeybush in the Southern Cape. It is because the Department assisted him that his business was able to create sixteen (16) permanent jobs, with opportunities for an additional twenty (20) seasonal workers.

Before this, in Waboomskraal, the Department assisted another farmer, who became the first black farmer in the area to produce proteas and hops.

Lamberts noted: “When all spheres of government work together in an integrated fashion, these are the type of results we will see”. 

Lamberts listed the activities and services the Department provides to farmers and all other stakeholders as the following:

  • Independent agricultural advice and information
  • Supporting Livestock farmers – Development program. Livestock Forum
  • Performance testing/annual evaluation/ID limitations and opportunities
  • Investigating and implementing new hardy breeds and crossbreeding
  • Investigations in lowering inset cost through conservation agriculture – cover crops
  • Investigations into pasture species for marginal lands
  • Crop production advice and information
  • Niche crops/markets
  • Training

The type of training that is provided includes evidence-based and practice-based farmers’ capacity building. This is done through farmers’ days, demonstrations, peer-to-peer learning, and face-to-face interactions. Since 2018, the department trained 820 beneficiaries and this ranged from vegetable training to farm implement operation training.

The Department has a memorandum of understanding with GRDM and vacant land has been identified that the municipality owns which is conducive for agricultural development opportunities. The Department is researching the potential of commodity processing facilities in the Garden Route, which will be a source of immediate job creation – a game-changer for job creation in the region.

The Department furthermore envisions the building of Agri-Business Platforms for clients where potential products can be processed ready for consumption. Through Conservation/Regenerative agriculture, farmers are encouraged to rehabilitate and look after their own soil to turn it into organic matter that fertilizes with very few chemicals. Trials on livestock projects have yielded very positive results to date, and the global view is that going regenerative holds many financial and ecological benefits.

Agritourism needs to be promoted as it holds several untapped opportunities for the tourism sector. There is a need to compile tour packages to visit farms and processing facilities for both local and international tourism. The Roads Department has a role to play as well, as it must ensure easy access through regular road maintenance and upgrades.

The Department is in the process of revisiting mechanization which would allow for a central point that offers services such as ploughing, for example, as well as repair and maintenance services on farm implements.

Lamberts concluded his presentation by saying that we can be very proud of our district and that the Department is very excited to continue its work in the area.

14 March 2022 Media Release: Garden Route Skills Mecca Forum Focuses On Youth Development And Agriculture

Media Release: Garden Route Skills Mecca Forum Focuses On Youth Development And Agriculture

14 March 2022
For Immediate Release

The first quarterly Garden Route Skills Mecca (GRSM) Forum for 2022 was held on 25 February 2022 and was attended by delegates in person and online via Microsoft Teams. This setting provides Garden Route District Municipality (GRDM) and its stakeholders a chance to collectively work towards achieving Skills Summit resolutions.

The forum was chaired by Ald. Stephen de Vries briefly explained the role of the GRSM in relation to the National Skills Development Plan. He alluded to President Cyril Ramaphosa’s speech during the State of the Nation Address (SONA) debate where he stressed the importance of skills development to support economic growth as part of the economic recovery plan. The GRSM aligns itself with the National Development Plan 2030 vision to improve access to occupations in high demand and priority skills in supporting economic growth, job creation, and social development.

We want to contribute to the vision of an educated and skilled workforce for South Africa.

The forum hosted two keynote speakers. The first was Clyde Lamberts from the Western Cape Department of Agriculture who outlined, in detail, the department’s growth and development strategy.

The second keynote speaker, Tshepo Manyama – Regional Manager of National Youth Development Agency (NYDA) Western Cape – presented on matters of skills development plans, opportunities, and needs that support youth development in the Garden Route.

Dr. Florus Prinsloo (Skill Mecca Co-ordinator, GRDM) officially launched the GRSM website, which has been in development since last year.

The aim of the website is to serve as a central point of communication and to close the gap between service providers, investors, and candidates with learning opportunities needs.

There is still work that needs to be done which, once completed, will see the ‘partnership’ page going live. Once this happens, service providers will be able to register and list learning opportunities, which will then be communicated by GRDM’s Communication unit. A process has been established to vet all applicants before registration to ensure that the highest standards are always met.

ENDS

Save The Date: Garden Route Skills Mecca Forum to Be Held on 25 February

Save The Date: Garden Route Skills Mecca Forum to Be Held on 25 February

For Immediate Release
14 February 2022

The first quarterly Garden Route Skills Mecca (GRSM) Forum for 2022 will be held on 25 February 2022 from 09:00-12:00 virtually. This setting gives Garden Route District Municipality (GRDM) and its stakeholders a chance to collectively work towards achieving Skills Summit resolutions.

Tshepo Manyama, Regional Manager of National Youth Development Agency (NYDA) Western Cape, will be the keynote speaker. He will talk on matters of skills development plans, opportunities, and needs that support youth development in the Garden Route. Joining Manyama will be Clyde Lamberts from the Western Cape Department of Agriculture. Lamberts will focus on similar matters, but with a focus on the resilient Agriculture sector of the Garden Route Growth and Development Strategy. The chairperson of the Education and Training Committee of GRDM will chair the session.

Stakeholders who wish to attend the webinar can register here.

13 December 2022 Media Release: GRDM embraces Occupational Based Learning

Media Release: GRDM embraces Occupational Based Learning

For Immediate Release
13 December 2021

The Public Service Sector Education and Training Authority (PSETA), the Cape Peninsula University of Technology (CPUT) and various Municipalities in the Garden Route have partnered to implement an occupationally based course for Public Office Administrators.

An Occupational Certificate is a combination of theory and on-the-job learning that is delivered in an integrated manner to give a person knowledge and practical skills too, rather than only a theoretical background. This means that students will acquire the work experience needed to enter the job market far earlier. Once enrolled, most of the learning will take place at a workplace and not at an educational institution.

These students are learning in the real world for the real world.

Occupational qualifications and certificates fall under the control of the Quality Council for Trades and Occupations (QCTO); one of three (3) Quality Councils in South Africa.

 “The vision of the QCTO is to qualify a skilled and capable workforce.”

These occupational qualifications are destined to become the new way of learning in South Africa as the country moves towards a more demand-led system that develops young people with the skills needed in the labour market.

As aspiring Public Office Administrators, those enrolling for this CPUT Occupational Certificate, learn core skills such as managing, organising, and analysing the effects of government policies and using business and statistical tools to solve public sector challenges in an ethical way. Added to this, learners will also learn skills in planning, organising, staffing, directing, coordinating, reporting, and budgeting.

The eight (8) Batho Pele principles of “people first” guide the implementation of public service delivery and is core to the values taught during this course. The duration of the certificate is over a period of six (6) months and students from various towns in the Garden Route to take part in it. Once selected, each student is placed at a municipality within their hometown and given tools of the trade such as a laptop and data bundles.

An example of this is the two learners who work with the rest of the Garden Route Skills Mecca Team. Both assist with skills development processes across the country, whilst getting to know all the sections and their main functions within GRDM. They work 40 hours a week and report to a supervisor who mentors them under strict supervision and signs their work experience records (logbooks). A percentage of the marks scored during this period counts towards their final marks.

The outcome of the course is to ensure that each learner is qualified and fit to be employed by the public sector with the newly acquired skillsets and valuable work experience they gained during the time.

Feature image caption: Anelisa Myeki (left) and Trishke Roodman (right), are two of the current CPUT students working with other Garden Route Skills Mecca stakeholders.

ENDS

Information supplied: Anelisa Myeki and Trishke Roodman

25 November 2021 Media Release: Quarterly Skills Mecca Forum draws experts from LGSETA

Quarterly Skills Mecca Forum draws experts from LGSETA

Media Release 
25 November 2021

On Friday, 19 October 2021, the Garden Route District Municipality (GRDM) hosted a virtual Skills Mecca forum attended by the general public, public and private sectors. The forum served as a platform to discuss matters relating to skills development in the Garden Route.

The meeting was chaired by Aneeka Jacobs, Provincial Manager of the Western Cape Local Government Seta (LGSETA). During her opening address, Jacobs emphasised that LGSETA wants to work with all stakeholders, partners, local and district municipalities, as well as training colleges to “bring business and people closer to the table”. She further stressed the importance of synergy between all involved to ensure that the process is collaborative.

Ineeleng Molete (Chief Executive Officer of LGSETA) explained the implications for Garden Route stakeholders on the support from LGSETA and how it aligns with the District Development Model (DDM).

During his presentation, Molete discussed the following:

District Development Model (DDM)

The DDM was launched in 2019 and is an integrated strategic framework that allows the three different spheres of government (national, provincial, and local) to function in unison. The framework promotes:

  • synergy;
  • cooperation;
  • coordination;
  • collaboration; and
  • integration of service delivery areas.

According to Molete, the DDM forms a basis for a single joint plan that will address skills gaps at district and metropolitan levels, which – in turn – will help alleviate and eventually eradicate poverty, inequality and unemployment. Furthermore, the model will look at the needs of local communities, including youth development, whilst improving the management and support for integrated planning, addressing gap areas or blockages.

“The Skills Mecca places Local Economic Development (LED) as a central component for Skills development Job Creation.”

Investing in skills development will help:

  • Enhance good governance, leadership and management capabilities;
  • Promote sound financial management and financial viability;
  • Enhance infrastructure and service delivery; and
  • Promote spatial transformation and inclusivity.

Garden Route Skills Mecca

Dr Florus Prinsloo (GRSM Coordinator) and Reginald Salmons (GRDM Skills Development Coordinator) presented the latest news of the GRSM.

Prinsloo announced that the construction of the GRSM website is almost complete, and it should go live early January 2022. The website aims to centralise information, facilitate communication and serve as a portal for employers, service providers and trainee candidates to interact using databases. Further announcements and dates will be communicated on social media in due course.

GRDM is hoping to get approval from the LGSETA in the next funding window to employ 17 graduates on a candidacy programme to work as Garden Route Skills Mecca Technicians.

Reginald Salmons explained that these technicians would hopefully be employed on a three-year term contract, during which they will be developed against the competencies for professional designations as determined by the professional body in South Africa, namely the Association of Skills Development of South Africa. Once their contracts end, each technician will be able to apply for formal designations that will enhance their employability.

During his closing remarks, Prinsloo said: “We hope to see employers approach us, asking for help to complete SETA applications, as they pay levies to SETAs every month.”

The final presentation was presented by Melanie Wilson (GRDM Manager: Economic Development and Tourism) and Mr Paul Hoffman (Project Manager at GRDP). They discussed the following during their presentation.

The GRDM Growth and Development Strategy (GDS) provides a framework strategy for the Garden Route for the next 20 years. The strategy is long term risk-based and takes the impact of COVID-19 into account through a GRDM Economic Recovery Plan. A Garden Route Development Partnership was established between the government and private sector to implement both plans.

GDS focus areas were identified and aligned to DDM. They are:

  • A water-secure future;
  • A circular economy;
  • Resilient agriculture;
  • Sustainable tourism;
  • Supporting well-being and resilience;
  • A connected economy: transport and rural-urban integration and ICT; and
  • Sustainable local energy transition.

Hoffman added that the private sector would be more involved, as this cannot be done without them.

The next forum meeting, taking place on 25 February 2022, will be communicated via the Garden Route District Municipality’s social media pages, stakeholders like the business chambers, local economic development officers from local municipalities and others.

To view slides that were presented at the forum, click on the links below:

Captions:Feature Image: Stakeholders who attended the forum (from left to right);Lerato Tshefu, Trix Holtzhausen, Bertus Hayward  Ineeleng Molete, Stephen De Vries, Aneeka Jacobs, Florus Prinsloo, Reginald Salmons

 

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