Employment and Labour Minister, Thulas Nxesi, is to deliver a keynote address during the official launch of training projects coordinated through the Labour Activation Programme in the Eastern Cape Province today (10 August 2023).

The Minister will launch a series of Labour Activation Programme training funded by the Unemployment Insurance Fund which aims at alleviating poverty and decrease unemployment levels through training for employability, by partnering with entities that will train and reskill jobseekers in market relevant fields, enhance entrepreneurship; provide access to relevant training, encourage mentorship whilst increasing access to markets and preserve jobs, assist companies in distress, assist workers acquire market relevant skills and introduce companies to new markets.

The projects target over 7 000 beneficiaries from different Municipalities within the Chris Hani District partnering with service providers who will be re-skilling the unemployed contributing in the reduction of unemployment. Service providers including Intsika Yethu Business Forum will conduct learnership on Systems Development, Entrepreneur Skills Programme, Incubation Programme, Plant and Animal Production; Brandrive will offer skills programme on Animal Production, Poultry Production; and Small Business Manager and Nnite will offer apprenticeship on Building and Civil Construction and Learnership on New Venture Creation. Intsika Yethu Business Forum is working in partnership with the Kingdom of the Western Thembuland to uplift the communities within the Intsika Yethu Local Municipality to revive and boost the economy of the area.

Transkei Skills Project Consortium, DICLA Training & Projects and Londmarx Group are some of the service providers who will offer apprenticeship, learnership and skills programme on different expertise. The trainings will range from 6 months to 2 years to complete.

Unemployed youth in Chris Hani District Municipality were registered and recruited from the Department's Employment Services of South Africa (ESSA) database and this is done to enable them to access opportunities to be reskilled and resuscitate the economy in the area through self-employment.

The launch of the projects is expected to be attended by the King of Western Thembuland, His Majesty King Dalimvula Matanzima; Premier of the Eastern Cape Province, Oscar Mabuyane; Deputy Minister, Boitumelo Moloi; Traditional Leaders; representatives from Intsika Yethu Local Municipality and Chris Hani District Municipality; Department of Employment and Labour's Director General, Thobile Lamati and UIF Commissioner, Teboho Maruping.

The Unemployment Insurance Fund is a public entity of the Department of Employment and Labour and is one of the key social security agencies in the country that provides temporary relief to the unemployed people.

Media is invited to the launch of the Labour Activation Programme Project

to be held as follows:

Date:    10 August 2023

Time:    14h00

Venue:  Qamata Great Place, Qamata

For enquiries:

Ziphozihle Klaas-Josefu  

Provincial Communication Officer: Eastern Cape

Department of Employment and Labour:

082 308 6306/ Ziphozihle.josefu@labour.gov.za

or

Teboho Thejane

Departmental Spokesperson

082 697 0694/ Teboho.Thejane@labour.gov.za

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Issued by: Department of Employment and Labour​

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