The City of Cape Town’s Environmental Management Department hosted a graduation ceremony at the Alphen Centre in Constantia to honour 22 graduates who underwent skills development training for the past three years through the Kader Asmal Skills Development Programme.The City’s Mayoral Committee Member for Urban Management, Alderman Grant Twigg was in attendance.
The Kader Asmal Skills Development Programme was initiated in September 2019 and forms part of the City of Cape Town’s Skills Development Programme. It is funded through the Expanded Public Works Programme (EPWP) office.
The objective of the programme is to equip participants with the skills and experience necessary for the job market, or for starting their own small businesses after the three-year implementation period.
The participants were selected from the Kader Asmal Integrated Inter-Departmental Catchment Management Programme’s database, the City of Cape Town job seeker database and also from the partner organisations.
‘I encourage all EPWP participants to make the most of the opportunity given to them. Everyone should work hard in the respective roles they are given. With the skills and experience gained in this programme, they will be able to apply for permanent or long-term contract positions.
‘Young people, visit your local subcouncil with your ID and proof of address to register with the EPWP Jobseekers Database for upcoming temporary work opportunities within the geographical boundaries of your local sub-council,’ said Alderman Grant Twigg, Mayoral Committee Member for Urban Management.
During the three years of the programme, the participants were empowered with a variety of skills, including soft skills such as emotional intelligence, self-motivation, self-management, and training related to different areas within the environmental administration fields. The programme is complemented with on-the-job training within the Invasive Species Unit and our internal and external stakeholders.
The 22 students graduating today are the first to graduate from the programme and are part of 53 participants who have successfully completed it since it was initiated in 2019.
Some of the programme’s successes include first runners’ up for best project category at the Mayor’s Special Awards for the implementation of the EPWP Kader Asmal Skills Development Programme and Kader Asmal Integrated inter-departmental Catchment Management Programme in 2019.
Between July 2019 and May 2021, the Invasive Species Unit (ISU) has created 9 292 permanent job opportunities and cleared 24 961 ha of invasive alien plant species across the city.
Special awards specifically linked to the role individuals played within the ISU will also be presented to recognize those outstanding staff members.
EPWP is one of government’s programmes aimed at alleviating poverty and reducing unemployment
‘It warms my heart to celebrate with these young people, during Youth Month, who have benefitted from temporary work opportunities, especially in a time when unemployment is a challenge, and they have upskilled themselves,’ said the City’ Mayoral Committee Member for Spatial Planning and Environment, Alderman Marian Nieuwoudt.
A panel consisting of the Head of Invasive Species, Area Manager in the Biodiversity Branch and Compliance Officer within the EPWP office reviewed and recommended the submissions of these awards. This is vital for the skills development staff to grow their CVs and to become more employable in the near future.
‘This programme speaks to our commitment to investing in expanded public and community programmes that will provide long-term employment. As an opportunity City, we are constantly seeking ways and means to attract talent and create an institutional culture where all talent can thrive. I am so proud of these participants who took the opportunity presented to them and now stand to enjoy economic inclusion.
‘What is also commendable is that the participants are all young, and South Africa is currently celebrating Youth Month – what better way to celebrate them? Also, the permanent job opportunities come at a time when the world is grappling with unemployment which has been exacerbated by Covid-19. The programme has exceeded our expectations. It is encouraging to see how these graduates have grown in their respective roles within the ISU. I also want to commend our staff, because without their dedication and support, this would not have been achieved. They ensured that the participants had access to the necessary tools that enabled them to continue with the programme even during the hard lockdown period last year. This is how we make progress possible, together,’ said Alderman Marian Nieuwoudt.
Below is a table showing the participants who are now permanent City employees:
|
Name |
Department |
|
Sandiso Ziduli |
Bulk Water |
|
Vutshilo Ramabulana |
Environment Management Department |
|
Simone Petersen |
Environment Management Department |
|
Waseem Parker |
Environment Management Department |
|
Nwabisa Majali |
Environment Management Department |
|
Kidwell Voyiya |
Water and Waste |
|
Solulele Mjandana |
Environment Management Department |
|
Ntlahla Nomsobo |
Environment Management Department |
|
Heiner Riffle |
Environment Management Department |
|
Daniel Clark |
Below are the participants who are employed by other stakeholders:
|
Name |
Company |
|
Matshela Khalo |
CTEET |
|
Nosimphiwe Gola |
Department of Agriculture and Forestry |
|
Thandiwe Mayile |
SANParks |
|
Sindisa Njemla |
SANParks |
|
Lehlogonolo Seshabela |
SANParks |
|
Khayakazi Breakfast |
Cape Nature |
The next intake for the Kader Asmal Skills Development Programme will be implemented across the additional units within the Biodiversity Management Branch in due course.