Page 21 - DPSA_SDR Vol 12 No.2 2019

YOUTH DEVELOPMENT

The DWS has put a number of initiatives
in place to ensure that trainees
graduating from the programme will
is aligned to the National Development The big picture
have employment opportunities and
become entrepreneurs. The programme
Plan (NDP), which is aimed at achieving
an average reduction in water demand An important tool in the fight against joblessness is skills development for the
of 15%. Qualifying learners can also youth. The unemployment rate among youth, those aged 15-34, currently at
position themselves by doing voluntary 38,9%, is higher than the overall unemployment rate of 27,2%. In other words,
work in their communities. just over one in three of the 10 million aspiring young people participating in
the labour force did not have a job in the second quarter of 2018. In particular,
The department is committed to the unemployment rate for those aged 15-24 is much higher, at 53,7%.
improving the lives of the youth, with
an emphasis on women. Since 1999, A high unemployment rate can be tackled from two fronts. Firstly, by
the department has offered bursaries increasing demand in the form of economic growth and job opportunities;
to various learners who want to pursue and secondly, by improving supply in the form of upgrading the skills of the
a career in the water sector. The DWS, workforce. In 1998, parliament passed the Skills Development Act, which
through the Learning Academy, has formed the groundwork for the Sector Training and Education Authority (Seta)
successfully empowered South African system. The system currently consists of 21 institutions (referred to as Setas)
graduates and undergraduates over the that focus on developing training programmes and internships in particular
years. industries.
The Learning Academy has afforded According to Stats SA’s latest Financial statistics of extra-budgetary accounts
learners an invaluable opportunity to and funds report on financial data for all 21 Setas, there has been a significant
gain practical work experience while jump in the income received by the Energy and Water Sector Education and
acquiring a formal education in the Training Authority (EWSeta). A cash injection from the Department of Water
process. The programme has unearthed and Sanitation pushed EWSeta up the ranks in terms of income received by
a number of gems over the years, who the Setas, from 10th in 2016 to 2nd in 2017.
went through the programme and have
gone on to exceed expectations. Closer inspection of the EWSeta annual report reveals that this increase was
mostly for the War on Leaks (WoL) project. The WoL project aims to train
I spoke to a number of learners 15 000 school leavers to become fitters and turners, plumbers, welders,
participating in the WoL programme and electricians. When trained, this small army of artisans will target ageing
who are doing voluntary work in their infrastructure across the country to curb water losses.
communities. Water agents study
both theory and practice for a Water With an overall vacancy rate of 15% in municipal water and waste water
Reticulation and Wastewater Diploma management departments across the country, developing these kinds of
(NQF4). The artisans and plumbers skills will aid in maintaining our water infrastructure. n
undertake a three-year qualification
N-course and will specialise as fitters Source: Stats SA
and turners, welders, instrument
mechanics and electricians. n

By Thabang Molai

Volume 12 No.2 of 2019 | SERVICE DELIVERY REVIEW 19