Eastern Cape MEC for Agriculture Nonceba Kontsiwe has hailed the launch Artisan Development Programme in Komani saying they would assist in the development and maintenance of agricultural infrastructure.

Speaking during the launch of the Chris Hani District Municipality skills Development Programme that is set to benefit 3600 youth, the MEC stressed that the programme would ensure government has developed youth that would be easily accessible.”

We have irrigation schemes where sometimes pipes are being bust and we would take these young people to fix all those things. This is helping us a lot so that we do not get stranded and look for big companies that are far these ones will be here and assist the community.

We will see hyped economic development when they are able to have their own companies and create jobs opportunities that will be able assist in economic development of district and the province,” she said.

Today, the MEC joined The Chris Hani District Municipality in partnership with CHDA, BCE Institute, UIf and Ikhala TVET, BCM College and iYunivesithi Walter Sisulu and other key stakeholders in launching the Artisan Development Programme in Komani, Thobi-Kula Indoor Sport Centre.

The programme is categorised in three parts, a skills development programme training learned in animal health and plant production, artisans and learnership. Today the programme will reveal the 710 artisans across occupational qualifications.

The programme also addresses unemployment issues and is part of government vehicles used to realise a much-improved number of artisans in 2030.

Kontsiwe said what she liked about the programmes was that the municipality had a partnership with TVET colleges and other companies to ensure youth were trained in the skills that will make them to be employers.”

She added that the stipends they will get from the programmme will be encouraging and if they save them, they would be able to get a start-up for their own businesses.

We encourage young people to grab opportunities like these because the government is ensuring that what is important now is for people to get skills more than the theory,” she said.

Chris Hani District Municipality Mayor Lusanda Sizani said the partnership in skills development would make sure we address the issue of unemployment and economic development.”

I thank the partners for this significant programme directed to our young people. We want to build strong outlook of economic development of Chris Hani District. Working the Department of Agriculture, we want to build economy on agriculture and ensure farms are utilised to build economy and these skills should change the economic outlook