The South African Property Owners Association (SAPOA) and the National Business Initiative’s (NBI) Youth Employment Initiative, which was launched in early 2023 in a bid to help unemployed technical and vocational education and training (TVET) college learners to develop skills within the installation, repair, and maintenance space in the real estate industry, has resulted in the placement of 85 unemployed learners across Gauteng and Cape Town.
The twelve-month certified skills programme is endorsed by the Quality Council for Trades and Occupations (QCTO) which offers a viable option for acquiring skills and competencies that lead to full-time qualifications which enable young people to occupy positions that require artisanal skills within the infrastructure maintenance space.
The initiative is a component of the Installation Registered Skills as well as Installation, Repair, and Maintenance (IRM) programme which breaks down obstacles that inhibit young people from participating in the economy, while providing alternative routes for unemployed youth into technical careers.
“Standing on the battlefield without sharpening your weapon will not increase your chances of winning. The future success of our nation and industry depends on our ability to adequately equip our young people who are the leaders of tomorrow,” says SAPOA Operations Manager, Kgabo Moshia.
The first quarter of 2023 saw South Africa’s unemployment rate rise to 32,9%, one of the highest rates ever recorded. Statistics South Africa (Stats SA) highlighted that youth unemployment remained a problem following the release of the latest figures for the first quarter of 2023.
The statistics body released the Quarterly Labour Force Survey in May which revealed that almost a quarter of a million young people lost their jobs in the first three months of 2023.
While the partnership between SAPOA and NBI is geared to create training programmes, it also aims to identify and to assist municipal infrastructure-related challenges where SAPOA members have a footprint and to conduct research on important issues affecting the real estate sector.
“The nation needs ‘demand-led skills training’ in which the two organisations can balance the need for particular skills with the availability of jobs,” says Moshia.
Gugu McLaren, Head of Economic Inclusion at NBI, adds that “solving our crippling unemployment challenge requires a multi-stakeholder and collaborative approach that drives bold and innovative interventions to fundamentally transform the ecosystem to ensure that young people have equitable access to livelihoods“.
SAPOA would like to thank the following participating employers for playing a crucial role in supporting this initiative:
- Airscalibur (Pty) Ltd
- Amandla Africa Energy
- Atlantis Special Economic Zone (ASEZ)
- Excellerate Real Estate Services
- Leelyn Management – Stripform Packaging (Pty) Ltd
- Rebosis Property Fund
- Sekhasimbe Consientious (Pty) Ltd
- Soshanguve Manufacturing Technology Demonstration Centre (SMTDC)
- Tlotlokgolo Business Investments (Pty) Ltd.
