By: Themba Nyovane – 29 September 2023

On 27 September 2023, the Vaal University of Technology (VUT) E-Skills in collaboration with the Department of Correctional Services (DCS), the Human Capital Learning Solutions (HCLS) and partners, held the E-Skills Information Communication Technology (ICT) SMME certificate ceremony in Alberton Civic Centre.

During the ceremony, a total of 215 certificates were awarded in the area of telecommunications.

In addition to upskilling the participating youth with technical skills in the era of the Fourth Industrial Revolution ($IR), the programme also afforded them with opportunities to be entrepreneurs to help tackle unemployment.

“We value skills to support the young unemployed South Africans, and mostly from the rural and township areas. With twelve years of doing projects of this nature, through a cohort partnership, the HCLMS introduced the Economic Stimulus Programme that provided skills development to five hundred unemployed learners between the ages of 21- and 35 from Gauteng, Northern Cape as well as Limpopo. The Cellphone Repair and Digital Terrestrial Television programme will give learners the ability to create self-employment,” said Mr. Harry Mathabathe, the HCLS Director.

Through the Private Public Partnership model Ms Antoinette Lombard, the VUT E-Skills Director, introduced the key facets of sustainable Small, Medium-sized, and Micro Enterprises (SMMEs) development in South Africa.” The private public partnership model is a beacon of hope for the youth in rural and townships communities across South Africa,”’ she said. She highlighted that collaboration between VUT and HCLS has developed an integrated Information and communications technology model to the unemployed youth in underserved areas. She also stressed out that the model has been tested over the past seven years and what we are celebrating here today is the outcome impact of the model. On SMMEs playing a huge role in driving economic growth, reducing inequality, and creating employment opportunities, MS Lombard said: “Together we are a formidable force that addresses socio-economic challenges, empowering the youth with skills and knowledge needed for the 21^st century market”.

The Deputy Minister of Justice and Correctional Services, Nkosi Phathekile Holomisa also graced the event and congratulated the certificate awardees. “Community Correction is responsible for the facilitation of acceptance and social reintegration of offenders into their respective communities and the creation of an environment that is conducive to the successful reintegration of offenders,”- said Minister Holomisa. He concluded by adding that the ceremony gave credence of enterprising and entrepreneurial efforts of the Department, with a three-year Memorandum of Agreement signed with National Electronic Media Institute of South Africa (NEMISA) to assist to leverage the ICT SMME model developed by HCLS and VUT. This will drive for digital skills literacy and does not leave parolees and victims of crime behind.