The 21-member delegation from Sekhukhune District, comprising seven unemployed youth graduates, six district municipal officials and eight Small, Medium and Micro Enterprise owners, embarked on a business and cultural exchange programme in China.

The programme is a partnership between the Local Government Sector Education and Training Authority (LGSETA) and the Chinese Culture and International Education Exchange Centre (CCIEEC).

The LGSETA and CCIEEC partnership laid a foundation for the establishment of sister-city relations between South African and Chinese cities, to promote cultural exchange, economic trade, and a mutual understanding between the two nations.

The district municipality stated that the programme focused on enhancing co-operation through skills training concerning the local government, but the municipal employees were brought back home before the programme was completed.

Lemson Moropjane, SDM spokesperson, could not provide answers as to why the municipal employees were withdrawn from the six-month programme just over a month after its commencement.

Speaking during the Lekgotla, Executive Mayor Minah Bahula said this negative development could be attributed to the dysfunctionality of the Local Labour Forum.
“The issue was supposed to be thoroughly thrashed out at that level so the outcome of the delegation and policy dynamics would be clear and open to everyone. Unfortunately, the municipal council was forced to take this unpopular yet necessary decision while the employees were already in China,” remarked Bahula.

The executive mayor highlighted that the municipality takes capacity building very seriously. It annually allocates bursaries to employees and regularly sends employees to attend workshops and short courses to empower them, “We will deal with the China matter internally to ensure a logical conclusion,” she said.