The Minister of Communications and Digital Technologies, Solly Malatsi, partnered with Midvaal Local Municipality Mayor Peter Teixeira in a handover of smart devices at the Midvaal Skills Development Centre in Savanna City on April 8.

The centre has become a beacon of hope for youth needing access to skills development. Launched in 2025, the skills hub continues to upskill young people, making them eligible for employment in various sectors.During its launch, Malatsi committed to returning and contributing to the centre’s growth.

The handover is paired with skills training from NEMISA, which will offer participants hands-on training in mobile content creation, equipping beneficiaries with practical, in-demand digital skills enabling them to participate meaningfully in the digital economy.

The initiative is a coordinated effort by the department, together with its entities, to bridge the digital divide by pairing access to devices with relevant digital skills development.

The department says the training is designed to empower young people not only as consumers of technology, but as creators and contributors. Opening pathways for entrepreneurship, employment, and innovation.

The handover is part of a broader programme aimed at building digitally enabled communities, improving access to opportunities, and ensuring that no one is left behind in South Africa’s digital transformation journey.

Teixeira said that through public-private partnerships, young people can be assisted in getting employment.

Speaking during the event, Malatsi highlighted that for the centre to have the intended impact on the community it serves, resources are required, including certain technological devices.

Malatsi said the only way to reduce the high unemployment rate is to equip them with skills compatible with available opportunities, highlighting the need for the skills imparted to be directly what is currently needed in the marke