The Annual Provincial Education, Training and Development Practices Sector Education and Training Authority (ETDP-SETA) Indaba was recently held at DUT where the creation of more opportunities for SA youth was on the agenda.

The provincial indaba is also an attempt to ensure that the ETDP-SETA fulfils its commitment of creating a footprint in each province as well as ensuring that the organisation maintains constant contact and engagement with its constituencies and stakeholders.

“As we grow, we are reaching out to rural and urban areas, working hand in hand with different communities and the government is trying to fight the scourge of poverty, lack of skills and unemployment,” said ETDP-SETA CEO Nombulelo Nxesi.

Other speakers at the Indaba also emphasised the importance of hard work and determination in achieving good results. “Innovation and technology can play a very important role when going into the future. The ETDP-SETA plays a vital role in our communities, it is essential that we all contribute in making sure that they work,” said eThekwini Municipality Speaker, Logie Naidoo.

Planning for 2016 and beyond, Nxesi also said ETDP-SETA was set to spread out in deep rural areas while growing the number of intakes and provision. “I have noted that there are some places where we are not easily accessible, we are working on that. We are also aware that as the number of students completing matric has grown. The government is also facing a problem in meeting their financial needs so we as the ETDP-SETA are working hard on a plan where we can help our communities, regardless of their status, assist with learner career guidance, informal and formal education so that they can be able to address the issues of our economy, unemployment and be able to create their own jobs and not only depend on the systems and government,” she said.

For more information regarding the work done by the ETDP-SETA, contact (031) 304 5930 or visit them at their offices on Anton Lembede Street, Durban Bay House, 12th Floor, Suite 1203.

– Noxolo Memela

Pictured: From left-right: Paseka Njobe; Manoshni Perumal,DUT Human Resources Manager: Skills Development; Alan Khan, Senior Director of Corporate Affairs at DUT; Zandile Ntshangase, ETDP-SETA KZN Provincial Co-ordinator; Logie Naidoo, eThekwin Municipality Speaker and Nombulelo Nxesi, ETDP-SETA Chief Executive Officer.