“Limpopo gears up with skills“

By: Andzani Hlongwane

On the 18^th of February 2020 the Limpopo Provincial Government held a launch of the Skills Development Programme at Jack Botes Hall in the City of Polokwane in partnership with MSC Business College.

This partnership is a decisive strategy by the Provincial Government to bring about much needed opportunities and Skills that meet the modern era of the Fourth Industrial Revolution (4^th IR). The launch was the forth coming of the newly created Digital Platform that the Province has created which called for all young people to submit their Curriculum Viteas (CV) to the Provincial Government for them to be digitised so as to match them to the relevant skills, training, experience, opportunities and jobs that they need according to their age and ability.

In attendance was the Premier of the Province Stanley Chupu Mathabatha accompanied by MECs, skills programme sponsors and Director of MSC College Mr Kenny Mathye. The partnership is in line with announcement by President Ramaphosa to strengthen government and business to bring about change in society.

Mathye said, he was moved by the mention of the triple weakening cord of unemployment, inequality and poverty in the State Of the Province Address of 2017 (SOPA) and resonated with their organisational vision and dream as be called upon to be active citizens by addressing the skills crises that is facing the country and in particular Limpopo province by enhancing the Skills Development Programme that will be carried out by MSC business College in Polokwane.

“We chose not to be discouraged or be intimidated by financial requirements by such an exercise including all we had and putting our heads on the line to achieve this dream,”Mathye said.

Winnie Masipa a recipient that benefited from the Learnership Programme spoke fondly of the experience of being selected saying, it was a great opportunity to change her life with the knowledge that had been provided to her.

”Before I joined the learnership Programme I had to leave by CV by the MSC Business College Campus and the Office of the Premier Premises so they could be digitalised”.

She recalls the anxious, gruelling long wait that she had to endure saying, It was not an easy process for her and the other graduates that had been selected for the Learnership Programme to wait for the response from the School and Provincial Government but at last they were called by the school and there were assessments that had to be written.

“The Provincial Government is creating a bright future for the youth having had mandated the Limpopo Youth Development Directorate in the Office of the Premier to respond efficiently and positively to the challenges facing the youth of the Province, the digital platform has digitised 56 000 00 CVs of Limpopo’s Youth and will link them to responsive training, vocational training, experience opportunities and much needed jobs”. Said the Premier

The Premier emphasised the need for learners to match their skills of qualifications and experience with the labour market needs of the Economy. He encouraged the youth to see opportunities where a few of them do.

He discouraged the youth to look beyond the tendering process that many are involved in with Government but see Entrepreneurship as a viable career choice.