MEDIA RELEASE
27 February 2023
THE EASTERN SEABOARD DEVELOPMENT SKILLS REVOLUTION SUMMIT CONDLUDES WITH A PLEDGE TO MOVE FROM SKILLS TO PRODUCTIVITY
Following the launch of the Eastern Seaboard Development by President Ramaphosa in 2021, the area has since been declared a region to aid seamless development that straddles four districts and two provinces.
Giving expression to the principles of the District Development Model (DDM) the Minister of CoGTA, Dr. Nkosazana Dlamini Zuma, convened the Eastern Seaboard Development Skills Revolution Summit. The Summit themed ‘From Skills Revolution to Productivity’ was held as part of the Eastern Seaboard Skills Revolution Programme that is aimed at developing a unique integration of natural, human, and capital resources within the District Municipalities of Alfred Nzo (Eastern Cape), OR Tambo (Eastern Cape), Ugu (KwaZulu-Natal) and Harry Gwala (KwaZulu-Natal).
The summit was attended by various stakeholders across the Eastern Seaboard. In addition, the Summit was attended by the Deputy Minister of Department of Agriculture, Land Reform and Rural Development, Ms Nokuzola Capa; Deputy Minister of Basic Education, Dr Reginah Mhaule; Deputy Minister of Cooperative Governance and Traditional Affairs, Mr. Obed Bapela, the MEC of CoGTA in the Eastern Cape, Mr. Zolile Williams and the Acting Mayor of OR Tambo, Cllr Thokozile Sokhanyile.
The Summit also drew participation from key partners and stakeholders from multiple professional bodies; academic institutions; royal houses; faith-based organisations as well as students and learners.
Minister Dlamini Zuma indicated that by investing in education and training, the country would be able to develop the skills and expertise necessary to capitalize on new technologies, adjust to new industries, and successfully compete in a global economy. Consequently, this will result in higher salaries, more secure jobs, and an improved standard of living for everyone.
The overview of the Eastern Seaboard, gave delegates an idea of a bigger plan that is geared to see communities across the Eastern Seaboard benefiting from this development.
The Summit provided delegates an opportunity to exchange ideas on how best to bring to life the vision of the Eastern Seaboard Development for ordinary communities. The only meaningful participation of communities in the e Eastern Seaboard will be to see that the youth are trained and acquire skills that are necessary for the development of the region. The summit confirmed that the region’s educational and skills profile is a critical success factor in the development of this smart city.
The strategic engagement held today is therefore a pivotal step change and an important milestone towards ensuring that the region embrace opportunities that will accrue from the 600km Eastern Seaboard Development.
With the Eastern Seaboard Development being rolled out, the region will see growth. The focus brought by the Eastern Seaboard Development will enable the District to identify priority projects that will yield economic spinoffs geared towards a rapidly growing economy and building a better life for communities.
It was in this context that there was an explicit acknowledgement that South Africa needs to join hands and minds to generate the solutions to our challenges relating the availability of skills for development. From the summit, it was therefore clear that low or no skills perpetuate poverty and inequality.
The message was therefore clear, skills development is a key to the realisation of the Eastern Seaboard Development. This strategic intervention will surely assist to ensure that growth and development is importantly aligned to the National Skills Development Plan (NSDP) which seeks to ensure that South Africa has adequate, appropriate and high quality skills that contribute towards economic growth, employment creation and social development.
Speakers at the conference emphasised that a well planned skills development can go a long way in helping to reduce the triple challenges – unemployment, poverty and inequality. It is through the required skills that are registered with professional bodies that our skills gap will shrink.
The delegates appreciated the vision of the region that is vibrant and inclusive, whilst also set to benefit communities. When people update their skills and they can compete fairly to the benefit of the economy and the overall development in line with the Eastern Seaboard Development.
Being cognisant of the fact actions to improve skills of communities will further bolster equal human rights for all our people, characterised by development.
The message was clear at the summit, government must continue to collaborate and partner with various stakeholders with an aim to improve the lives of communities who will amass key skills, especially those in demand within the job market and also as part of the Eastern Seaboard development.
The CoGTA implementing agency, Municipal Infrastructure Support Agency (MISA) continues, in collaboration with other role players and stakeholders to open doors of learning through the provision of education and bursary schemes, some which were handed over by Minister Dlamini Zuma today. These collaborations for skills development in higher education is an important milestone that will assist our youth to close the gap between market needs and skills in the environment.
From the above context, Minister Dlamini Zuma showed the support to the youth in action by presenting twenty five (25) students from universities throughout the Eastern Seaboard Development region with bursaries. The bursaries are part of the ongoing MISA work aiming to empower youth. The bursaries were given to students studying urban and regional planning, as well as civil, electrical, and mechanical engineering.
The other part of the summit featured three panel discussions: (1) Government Institutions of Higher Learning; (2) Professional bodies and private sector; and (3) Sector Education and Training Authorities. The students and universities were urged to undertake research that begins to solve local problems, plough back into local communities and build economies.
The summit agreed that development of skills can contribute to structural transformation and economic growth by enhancing employability and labor productivity and helping both people and the economy to get the relevant skill
Minister emphasised that government should work with other stakeholders as one and not in silos guided by the DDM. The benefit of working together is the impact on the lives of communities.
Minister Dlamini Zuma further sounded a clarion call, indicating that youth must play crucial vanguard role in the struggle for economic emancipation and power by amassing relevant knowledge and skills through training that will support the growth economy and the development of our country. Minister urged that both public and private sector should actively skill the youth and also provide them an opportunity to ply their skills across various sectors taking advantage of the natural endowments of the whole region.
The summit also emphasised mentoring and incubation so as to ensure that the youth are empowered and ready to amass the required skills for development.
As part of the commitment and working together, all partners signed a social compact to advance and ensure implementation of the Eastern Seaboard.
The summit confirmed that skills and knowledge are the key drivers of Economic Growth and Social Development.
To this end, the summit made a firm commitment to ensure that the Eastern Seaboard will amongst others be driven by skills revolution geared towards empowering the youth.
The summit agreed to continue collaborations, partnerships and working together for skills development of the youth in support of the Eastern Seaboard.
The summit also made a commitment to a programme of action with clear deliverables and timelines.
Enquiries:
Lungi Mtshali
082 088 5060
Issued by the Ministry of Cooperative Governance and Traditional Affairs