BCM’s R1m boost for youth artisan training

ONE hundred unemployed rural youths are set to benefit from skills training as artisans, farmers, and in other trades, thanks to a R1-million contribution from Buffalo City Metro.

On Monday, the youths will start the programme and their tuition, material and stipends will be covered by the metro.

Mayoral spokesman Ayabulela Ngoqo told the Daily Dispatch that a report was presented to the mayor highlighting challenges in the development of youth in the city.

“Our metro has a reasonably large presence of rural areas and we have chosen to upskill them in order to bring opportunities to them.”

The city has partnered with the department of rural development and agrarian reform and Services Sector Education and Training Authority (Seta) on the project.

The trainees will be paid R1 500 during the training.

Once their studies are completed, one group will be further trained in entrepreneurship by the municipality’s Business Support Unit and receive help in registering their own cooperatives.

Ngoqo said they were speaking to private businesses about possible partnerships, as it was important for aspirant tradesmen and women to be absorbed into the job market as soon as possible.

“The mayor has a very healthy relationship with the local business forum and brokering a deal that will benefit the entire city,” Ngoqo said.

Nomveliso Khuse, 29, who has been unemployed for the past seven years, said the opportunity was a life-changer.

“This will give us hope and something to look forward to. I believe it will also give us confidence in knowing that we have some kind of a skill.”

The mother of three, like most in her village of Tyutyu in Bhisho, has been struggling to find employment after passing her matric.

Khuse could not go to university due to lack of funds.

“It’s not like we do not want to study or that we do not want to get skills – we are at times too far from services and [information] about available opportunities.” — simthandilef@dispatch.co.za