Minister of Transport, Barbara Creecy conducting an inspection of the Germiston to Katlehong commuter rail line. Picture: Department of Transport/X
Transport Minister Barbara Creecy says State-owned Enterprises (SOEs) have a responsibility to provide opportunities to young South Africans looking for work.
These entities have a mandate to provide young people with practical work experience, especially in the construction sector, Creecy noted.
The minister made these comments at a media briefing after inspecting the Germiston to Katlehong commuter rail line earlier this week.
Creecy said that SOEs have played an important role in helping small enterprises and engineers gain experience so that they can move up the Construction Industry Development Board (CIDB) register.
She noted that contractors, who wish to work in the public sector, must register with the CIDB.
“In order to be able to do major construction, you must demonstrate that you have become accredited. This is an important role that SOEs have played historically, and it’s a role we want to ensure that these enterprises are once again being supported (to play),” she said.
“With regard to the training that we are offering young engineers, it’s really important that we give practical experience to young professionals. One of the major reasons we have so many unemployed graduates in our country is young engineers, particularly, struggle to complete the practical training that is required to become fully fledged and independent professionals.”
The minister added that government wants to assist and push for more South African young engineers to be recognised and gain the vital work experience they need.
“We really want to play our role in that regard because we believe that we have incredible talent in our country and we want to make sure that the talent is properly used for all the important infrastructure projects that we need to happen in our country,” she said.
The minister used the Germiston/Katlehong commuter rail line as an example of how young people can get jobs and experience through construction projects.
The Germiston to Katlehong commuter rail line upgrade costed the state R400 million and required rebuilding of a number of stations and substations in order to get a more stable source of electricity.
“In the course of this work, we have created 500 jobs for the local community,” the minister said.
Moreover, the project was able to involve 34 small, medium and micro enterprises (SMMEs).
The minister said that around 33 young engineers have been used to assist government on its recovery programme of its rail infrastructure.
IOL BUSINESS