More than 100 000 KZN youth and entrepreneurs to benefit from public-private partnership
A PARTNERSHIP between the KwaZulu-Natal government and the eLan Foundation – aptly named the Shift Africa Project – will result in the creation of more than 100 000 jobs and entrepreneurship opportunities for the province’s youth.
KZN Premier, Sihle Zikalala said the project would also provide skills development for victims of gender-based violence and young people facing challenges.
The economic spin offs and job opportunities announced during the launch are a result of the eLan Property Group’s R16-billion Blythedale Coastal Estate Resort development.
“This is a very strategic project because it talks to economic growth, redistribution and creation of jobs,” said Zikalala. The project will see the eLan property investment group and the eLan Foundation partner with the KZN Department of Social Development to “train young people and ensure that they are employed in the property development projects implemented in the Ilembe District”.
One of these projects is the Blythedale resort, a mega catalytic project that is expected to attract international investors and will be the biggest resort in southern Africa. It will also result in the employment of more than 100 000 people during the construction phase and yield more business opportunities for small, medium and micro enterprises (SMMEs).
Zikalala called on the business sector to continue working with the government to implement high impact projects that would help reduce unemployment and ensure skills development.
“This project will help us reduce unemployment, and provide skills training for youth and women. The eLan Group has been given a database of young people who have been trained by the Department
of Social Development – and some of these trainees are ex-offenders,” the Premier explained. “No-one must be condemned. There is a need to rehabilitate ex-offenders and it is important to give them a second chance in life. The ex-offenders who have been trained will also be given an opportunity to work in the Blythedale project and make a meaningful contribution to the growth of our economy.”
The partnership will also provide skills development for victims of gender-based violence and youth who have faced challenges. Its objectives include:
s 4HE DEVELOPMENT OF ENTRY LEVEL PROgrammes which will serve as a gateway to occupationally-directed skills development for the identified youth.
s 3HORT TERM EMPLOYMENT AND PROCUREment expenditure during construction.
s TRAINED PERSONNEL BEING PLACED in permanent jobs.
s 4HE INCUBATION OF 3--%S WITH guaranteed contracts as per their services.
4HE DEVELOPMENT OF SUSTAINABLE income streams for co-operatives and beneficiaries, thus reducing poverty.
s 'UARANTEED CONTRACTS THAT WILL LEAD to the sustainability of the co-operatives.
s 'REEN ECONOMY PROGRAMMES AND THE development of social enterprises that will provide business spin-offs.