Pretoria – Just over a year after her brutal rape, mutilation and murder shocked the world, Anene Booysen's memory will now ignite new hope for her community.
The Department of Higher Education and Training on Thursday launched the construction of a world class skills development centre in Bredasdorp, Western Cape, in honour of Booysen.
Minister Blade Nzimande today officiated the sod turning ceremony, which will see the house next to where the teenager was found, transformed into a R10 million skills development centre and job creation project in her memory.
Speaking at the event, Minister Nzimande said it marked an era of hope, opportunity and renewal for the Bredasdorp community.
He said the centre should be the pride of the community and a fountain of knowledge for generations to come.
The minister went on to say that the project, in partnership with the Construction Sector Education and Training Authority and the Cape Agulhas municipality, was an attempt to ease poverty in the Bredasdorp.
“This skills centre will go a long way in providing a means to the youth of Bredasdorp and neighbouring areas to get access to education and training,” he said, adding that it also signalled government’s commitment to channel skills development resources to rural communities.
“We have to progressively invest in building more satellite technical vocational education and training (TVET) college campuses for marginalised communities like this one to reap the fruits of this large investment in the post-school sector.”
In addition to the centre, 300 short skills programmes, 50 learnerships, 75 apprenticeships and 250 recognition of prior learning (RPL) programmes were availed to benefit the community.
The minister also handed over 21 bursaries for universities and TVET colleges.
On February 2, 2013, 17-year-old Booysen was raped and murdered.
Booysen had visited a Bredasdorp nightclub on Friday, February 1. A few hours later, she was gang raped and mutilated. She was found at the construction site where she worked, the next morning, and died in hospital later that day.
Johannes Kana, 21, received two life sentences for Booysen's rape and murder. – SAnews.gov.za
