More than 12 400 young South Africans secure permanent jobs through WCG’s skills programmes since 2020
15 May 2024
Since 2020, the Western Cape Government’s (WCG) Experiential Learning programme has helped approximately 12 420 young, unemployed South Africans, mostly from areas such as Mitchells Plain, Delft, Khayelitsha, Gugulethu, and Langa, to gain permanent or contract jobs in the Western Cape.
“While the Western Cape has the lowest unemployment rate in South Africa, as confirmed yesterday by Statistics South Africa in the latest Quarterly Labour Force Survey, the fact remains that far too many people, and especially young people, are not able to find work. At the same time, in almost all my interactions with businesses I hear how they struggle to find employees with the right skills needed. This is why the WCG’s Department of Economic Development and Tourism dedicates significant time, energy, and funding to provide a critical link between the needs of industry, academia, and unemployed young people,” said Western Cape Minister of Finance and Economic Opportunities, Mireille Wenger.
Working with the private sector, stakeholders across all levels of government as well as international partners, DEDAT runs various skills development programmes in the Cape Town metropolitan area, as well as various rural towns including Darling, Caledon and Atlantis, aimed at providing opportunities to unemployed young South Africans.
The department’s experiential learning programmes include work and skills, artisanal development, clothing and textiles, business process outsourcing (BPO) and hospitality. All learners are from the Western Cape and are South African citizens.