SEVERAL young men and women graduated from the Public Works Programme-National Youth Service (EPWP-NYS) at the Mew Way Hall in Khayelitsha, Western Cape, on Friday, 16 February.
The event was graced by the Minister of Public Works and Infrastructure, Sihle Zikalala, who celebrated the graduation of 108 graduates from various bases in Cape Town.
The minister urged graduates to use skills acquired to fight poverty and unemployment.
Zikalala said the skills acquired by the graduates will be accredited by the Department of Higher Education and Training, and the graduates can be employed or start their own businesses.
He also thanked the police for allowing graduates to maintain their buildings as part of their practicals.
"We'd like to thank SAPS for giving us an opportunity to carry out maintenance work on the buildings, thus giving graduates an opportunity to learn skills. Today, we're pleased to announce that 56 of the 108 graduates have already found employment,” he said.
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He said his department was working on skills development for Mzansi youth.
"Launched in 2014, the Decade of Artisans aims to develop the skills for young South Africans to ensure they make a significant contribution to the economy.
Pheliswa Ntlalintlali (29), who graduated as a carpenter, said she was overjoyed to have managed to secure a skill that would enable her to improve her future.
“I want to find a job first to gain more experience in the industry and then start my own business to employ other people,” she said.
Another graduate, Loyiso Ndyebo (24), said he was grateful to have gained skills.
Usiphile Yamkela Mfefe (25) wants a job: “As a graduate, I can no longer sit around ekasi doing nothing. I want to have some kind of job to keep myself busy.”
Amisa Sinyanya(21) said she has learned a lot.
“I hope one day I can open my own business and employ people as well as teaching them what I know. I tell the girls, 'Don’t be afraid of hammers and nails, carpentry is fun'," Amisa said.
