Western Cape youth win big at SA skills competition

Young people from the Western Cape will represent the province at an international skills competition.

Sixteen young people won medals at the national leg of the World Skills Competition, which was held in Durban last month. Of this group, eight gold medalists will represent South Africa at the international competition in Dubai later this year. The competition awards excellence in technical expertise in careers such as electrical work, bricklaying, plumbing, autobody repair, graphic design, restaurant service, IT system administration, IT network solutions, hairdressing, Computer Numerical Control (CNC) turning and beauty therapy.

The students represent institutions such as Northlink TVET College, College of Cape Town, False Bay TVET College, International Hotel School, NX Hair Academy and 124 Wireless.

Tomorrow, (14 March 2017), Alan Winde, Minister of Economic Opportunities, will congratulate the medalists, and they will discuss representing the Western Cape in Dubai.

Minister Winde said: “The winners of the competition will represent their institutions and communities on the international stage. It is important to celebrate their achievements. We know that skills development unlocks job opportunities for young people.

“Through the Western Cape’s Apprenticeship Game Changer, we have set a target of introducing 32 500 qualified apprentices into the labour market by 2019. This target includes apprentices who will qualify as artisans, semi-skilled workers who achieve partial qualifications, and top-up qualifications for existing artisans and semi-skilled workers. We will be focusing on the Western Cape’s key economic sectors prioritised under our growth strategy – Project Khulisa. These sectors are Oil & Gas, Agri-processing and Tourism.”

DETAILS:

DATE: Tuesday, 14 March 2017

TIME: 9am – 10am

VENUE:  Ministry of Economic Opportunities, 142 Long Street, Cape Town CBD