710 Apprentices Begin Three-Year Artisan Training in Komani

A total of 710 young apprentices have officially begun a 36 month artisan development programme following the launch of the Chris Hani District Municipality’s Artisan Development Programme in Komani on Thursday.

The programme, launched at the Thobi-Kula Indoor Sports Centre, is a partnership between the Chris Hani Development Agency (CHDA), BCE Institute and the Unemployment Insurance Fund (UIF). It aims to equip young people with nationally recognised technical skills while helping to address unemployment and critical artisan shortages in the district.

The 710 apprentices have signed apprenticeship agreements with BCE Institute and will receive training in a range of trades, including electrical work, diesel mechanics, welding and other artisan disciplines.

As part of the initiative, CHDA, Buffalo City College, Buffalo City Development Agency and Ikhala TVET College also signed a collaboration framework covering artisan development, placement, artisan recognition of prior learning and workshop accreditation.

Chris Hani District Municipality Executive Mayor, Cllr Lusanda Sizani, said empowering young people with technical skills was essential to transforming the district’s economy.

“Empowering young people, especially those from disadvantaged backgrounds, with artisan skills is key to transforming the district’s socio-economic landscape. It is a fact that many young people face financial hardship, limited education, high unemployment rate, and so technical and vocational training offers a practical pathway into the workforce,” said Sizani.

He added that the programme is about more than developing trade skills.

“Such development programme is not only confined on building trades; it’s about building a resilient and inclusive economy.”

The municipality said the artisan programme forms part of its broader Labour Activation Programme, which will benefit 3,600 people through 710 artisan apprenticeships, 1,600 skills programme participants and 1,630 learnership beneficiaries.

During the launch, 99 beneficiaries who had completed accredited training also received nationally recognised certificates in water and wastewater reticulation services, disaster risk management, water and wastewater treatment process control supervision, carpentry and construction roadworks.