Representatives at the event included the association, SA Taxi, which sponsored the food for the graduates at the celebration; Greater Midrand Development Centre; MMC for Community Safety, Sello Lemao; Ward 110 councillor Stephen Lamola; and community members.
According to its manager, Makgoba Phakadi, the centre, which receives funding from the Department of Social Development, was formed with the sole purpose of addressing skills shortages and to clamp down on poverty by providing food parcels and clothing to deserving beneficiaries.
While addressing the graduates before the event, Phakadi said, “We are proud that you completed the course, and you may come from disadvantaged backgrounds, but today you have a skill you can use to seek employments.”
MMC for Community Safety Sello Lemao, urged the graduates to plow their skills back into the community. “The City of Johannesburg has many opportunities for young people to become employed with the skills you have received. Do not sit and wait to be employed, start a business and employ other people in the community.”
Lemao said he was proud of the group graduating, as some of them were his pupils when he was still working as a teacher.
Greater Midrand Development Centre board chairperson, Eunice Mgcina, thanked the graduates for sticking to the programme. She said, “Congratulations to all the graduates. A lot of people dropped out of the course along the way, even if the course is free, but by not graduating you are taking an opportunity paid for by government from someone who could have completed the course and put the skill to good use.”
A beneficiary who graduated, Jackson Makhura, said he appreciates the skills he received and will, indeed, put them to good use.
Details: sisqopagadi@gmail.com
