The 2016/17 edition of Limpopo Business is the eighth issue of this highly successful publication that, since its launch in 2007, has established itself as the premier business and investment guide to the Limpopo province.
Limpopo is unique in terms of its abundant natural and human resources, and is also one of the key drivers behind the South African economy.
This edition of Limpopo Business is officially endorsed by the Office of the Premier of Limpopo.
OVERVIEW Training
OVERVIEW Training National and provincial government are investing heavily in training. The Limpopo Provincial Government has a national pilot project in training for Tool, Dye and Mould-Making. In 2015 Limpopo’s first 20 trainees qualified. There is a plan to establish a Manufacturing Support Centre to make sure that the right skills are being taught to support industry. Involved parties will be the Limpopo Tooling Initiative Advisory Board, the Technology Information Agency and universities. During 2014/15 the provincial government made R12-million available for internships, bursaries and learnerships. The allocation for 2015/16 was 50 bursaries and a commitment to employ 98 interns with a view to helping them train for the job market. A specialist programme to develop skills in the green economy has 31 young people supported by the provincial government studying Energy Management Systems. There is a National Student Financial Aid Scheme, which is under pressure following a concentrated protest across South Africa against high university fees. Bursaries are also available under the National Skills Fund. The Medupi Power Station Joint Venture (MPSJV: Grinaker- LTA, Murray & Roberts and Concor) has a training facility where about 1 300 local people have been trained to qualify for jobs on this complex building site. Far in the north of the province, De Beers has established a Skills Development Centre, linked to its Venetia Mine. The centre caters not only to mine employees, but also for local school pupils and adults from the community of Alldays. Impala Platinum (along with its Limpopo subsidiary Marula Platinum) has a partnership with the National Department of Mineral Resources and the Da Vinci Institute for Technology Management, which focuses on the training of black women in the mining industry. A Master of Science degree in Technology and Innovation is available to candidates, several of whom are now in management positions at Impala Platinum. Anglo Platinum (Amplats) has a new Mining Training Centre (Eastern Limb) at its Twickenham mine, and this will also deliver training and assessment to staff of other operations. What for several years were known as Further Education and Training Colleges (FET) have now been re-branded as Technical and Vocational Education and Training (TVET) Colleges. There are seven TVET colleges in Limpopo: Capricorn College, Lephalale College, Mopani East College, Mopani South College, Sekhukhune College, Vhembe College and Waterberg College. Capricorn College has three campuses, each of which has a slightly different focus. The city campus in Polokwane offers business studies, engineering and National Curriculum Vocation (NCV) subjects. Seshego (outer Polokwane) has an engineering focus while Senwabarwana is situated in a rural area and concentrates on teaching hospitality and hairdressing. At Lephalale TVET College, students can study Business Studies, Hospitality, Engineering Studies, Nature Management and Computer Science. The college has a satellite campus at Modimolle. Murray & Roberts is training hundreds of artisans at the Tlhahlong training centre in partnership with the college and the merSETA. Siemens has supported this centre with significant capital investment. Waterberg College operates as five business training centres across two municipalities, namely Lepelle-Nkumbi and Mogalakwena. ONLINE RESOURCES Capricorn TVET College: www.capricorncollege.co.za Council of Higher Education: www.che.ac.za Lephalale TVET College: ww.lephalalefetcollege.co.za Mining Qualifications Authority: www.mqa.org.za Sumbandila Scholarship Trust: www.sumbandila.org Turfloof Graduate School of Leadership: www.ul.ac.za University of Limpopo: www.ul.ac.za University of South Africa: www.unisa.ac.za University of Venda for Science and Technology: www.univen.ac.za Waterberg College: www.waterbergcollege.co.za LIMPOPO BUSINESS 2016/17 92
FOCUS Skills development a priority of youth-focused initiatives The Provincial Government of Limpopo is determined to improve the prospects of young people in the region. Given the South African demographic profile, with an estimated 36.2% of the total population between 15 and 34 years of age, youth development is a priority issue for government entities nationwide. This includes the provincial government of Limpopo. With 2016 marking 40 years since the Soweto uprising, projects undertaken during this year have taken on a particular significance. The Youth Directorate in the Office of the Premier is involved with a number of interventions to improve the prospects for young people in Limpopo Province. A number of these programmes and projects relate to education. Improved opportunities for education and skills development In 2015 the Limpopo provincial government announced the re-opening of the Madzivhandila and Tompi Seleka agricultural colleges. These colleges have already begun to make an impact in skills development in the agricultural sector. A particular highlight for 2016 was the opening of the first medical school in the province. Sixty students were enrolled for the first year of training at the medical school attached to the University of Limpopo and these students were offered full bursaries by the provincial government. In order to encourage the development of skills of a different kind, the provincial government has identified a site for the location of a theatre, which will provide a platform for young people to showcase their talents and acquire performing arts skills. Promoting entrepreneurship Young people in the province are also encouraged to develop entrepreneurial and business skills. In June 2016, the Office of the Premier partnered with local commercial radio station, Capricorn FM, in hosting a youth seminar. The seminar highlighted opportunities for young people in the agri-business sector. During an address to young people participating in 2016 Youth Day celebrations, Premier Mathabatha reminded those present of the national interventions designed to assist youth-owned businesses. He made particular reference to the Department of Small Business Development, which is implementing a variety of programmes to uplift small businesses, particularly those that are owned by young people. Youth-owned co-operatives can access financial support up to R350 000 through the Cooperative Incentive Scheme in the Department of Small Business Development. Access to information As part of Limpopo’s Youth Month activities, MEC Ramathuba officially opened the fully equipped Eldorado Youth Centre outside Senwabarwana. This centre will enable members of the community to access the Internet and valuable information such as employment opportunities and bursaries or details on applying to tertiary institutions. 93 LIMPOPO BUSINESS 2016/17
