Water stewards to be trained
This initiative is a targeted programme aimed at rebuilding the plumbing skills base for water stewards while creating work opportunities for the youth.
Clr Mzwandile Masina, the mayor of the City of Ekurhuleni (CoE), recently announced a new Expanded Public Works Programme, which will see 300 youth enter a three-year apprenticeship.
This is intended to create sustainable artisanal jobs and phase out dependency on external contractors who undertake the installation, repairs and maintenance of water meters in the city.
Through a partnership with Technical and Vocational Education and Training Colleges (TVET) and the CoE, beneficiaries will exit the programme as qualified artisans; having obtained a trade test certificate and a vocational qualification simultaneously.
The programme has two components, mainly a six-months theoretical/practical plumbing apprenticeship training at an accredited TVET college integrated with 24 months experiential training within the CoE’s Department of Water and Sanitation.
Also read: Ekurhuleni maintains low water consumption
The city has identified water governance as an immediate remedy to improve water-use efficiency and reduce non-revenue water in the municipality.
Non-revenue water in the city is currently standing at 34.7 per cent and the long-term target is to reduce this figure to 20 per cent by 2023 in line with the city’s water demand management strategy.
“We are continuously investigating ways on how we can exploit the potential of the demographic dividend in our city,” said Masina. “This initiative is a targeted programme aimed at rebuilding the plumbing skills base for water stewards while creating work opportunities for the youth.
“Such an effort is required in order for the city to decisively deal with metering and the resultant lost revenue for the municipality.”
Follow us:
For more #hyperlocal news at your fingertips, visit Springs Advertiser, Boksburg Advertiser, Benoni City Times, African Reporter
