Nkomazi’s aspiring electricians finally graduate after six years
The graduates would be given first priority for job opportunities within the Nkomazi Local Municipality, said its MMC for corporate services, Sipho Sibiya.
Twenty students of the Local Government Sector Education and Training Authority (LGSETA), in partnership with the Nkomazi Local Municipality, finally graduated and received their certificates.
Their graduation ceremony was held at the Kobwa Community Hall in Malalane on October 11. After six years, the graduates are ready to go out into the industry having completed their course in electrical apprenticeship. The group started in 2018 and were meant to enrol for just three years, but ended up doubling the years due to some constraints.
“It has been a very challenging time for all the parties involved. The programme is meant to have theory and 70% practical work. The challenges were more on the service providers’ side, because the practical had to be done in the field.
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“We have emphasised that we only work with accredited service providers. It was unfortunate that along the way accreditation would lapse and we would have to find another, which took some time and the contract expired. It was a chain of collapsed events and we would have to constantly renew contracts, which affected the timeline for the entire programme,” said LGSETA’s provincial manager, Idani Kudzingana.
She commended the participants for their patience. She also encouraged them to start their own business and get more skills in the field. “This group has been resilient and today it has paid off. We started off with 33 students and only 20 are graduating today. Not all of them will be absorbed by the municipality or find jobs in the formal workforce. We therefore encourage them to start their own businesses and upskill so they can be self-employed and stay relevant in the industry,” she added.
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The MMC for corporate services, Sipho Sibiya, congratulated the group. “They are now fully qualified artisans with trade tests and we wish them well as they dive into the workplace environment. They now have the necessary skills to be employed. They are the product of the municipality and should there be opportunities, we will give them the first priority. They have been equipped with a scarce skill and are determined to succeed,” said Sibiya.
