SA in need of innovators, manufacturers

Friday, November 10, 2017

Deputy President Cyril Ramaphosa says if South Africa is to successfully overcome the economic legacy of apartheid, and to raise the living standards of citizens, it needs innovators, producers and manufacturers.

The Deputy President said this on Friday when he opened the meeting of the Human Resource Development Council (HRDC), Automotive Learning Centre, in Rosslyn in Tshwane.

He said the centre is demonstrating the vital link between human resource development and the growth of effective, competitive and sustainable industry.

“We cannot afford to be mere consumers of goods and services. As a home of manufacturing, innovation and enterprise development, this centre offers a path to a new economy.

“We applaud the Automotive Industry Development Centre for its efforts to keep our local automotive industry globally competitive,” said the Deputy President.

Deputy President Ramaphosa applauded the Gauteng Provincial Government and the South African automotive industry for demonstrating commitment and for working together to ensure that the country builds a successful industry that attracts investment, develops the capabilities of the youth, creates jobs and builds successful businesses.

Many lessons can be drawn from the work that is done at the centre, he said, particularly in the technical and vocational education and training sector.

Government was now more determined that the industry should provide experiential learning to learners in Technical Vocational Education and Training (TVET) colleges much earlier, and that companies should get involved in the Adopt-a-TVET College initiative on a far larger scale.

“When industry and training institutions work collaboratively, our youth will be better prepared to succeed in a world that values competitiveness and experience.”

Deputy President Ramaphosa said South Africa will not work if the TVET sector is broken.

 

“We will not create the jobs we need if the sector lacks a common vision, underperforms, is under-resourced and is perceived to be corrupt.”-SAnews.gov.za