Construction toolkits for Uniondale learners

UNIONDALE NEWS - Eight learners from Uniondale received construction toolkits from the Western Cape Department of Human Settlements on Sunday 29 August.

The event marked the learners' completion of their theoretical plumbing skills training at a TVET college in Cape Town. The toolkit consist of a hacksaw, 450mm pipe wrench, a tube cutter (for copper), grip pipe bender, ball pein hammer, bevel square, 25 x 300 cold chisel, and a basin spanner.

"The tools will assist learners with the practical training component of the programme," said Western Cape Human Settlements Minister Tertuis Simmers, who did the handover.

The training course is facilitated by the department and other stakeholders through its Youth Empowerment Programme, with a budget of R3 million.

A stipend for work done on various projects, such as the George Municipality’s War on Leaks project, willl be paid to the learners.

One of the learners, Le-Roy Mlambo (31), said the toolbox has everything they need to continue with the plumbing course. "With these tools everything will be much easier. The jobs will go on so we can provide for our families with these toolkits that we got today."

He said even though there were some challenges, he managed to go on with the course through patience and dedication. “I have started my own business. I did a few jobs and am networking to get more. I am going places with this."

Simmers said investing in the youth to ensure they are upskilled and empowered helps to not only make them employable, but also to start their own businesses that can start creating further employment opportunities.

"I’d like to encourage these and other young people to use their skills and tools to not only improve their immediate community, but to look at further opportunities within their municipal area and beyond. The world is now their oyster with limitless opportunities.”

At least 50% of the Human Settlements Development Grant (HSDG) of the department is allocated to small, medium and micro enterprises (SMMEs).

Candidates of the plumbing skills programme during the handover of the toolkits.