KwaMpumuza Skills Development Centre has officially been launched in Elandskop, Pietermaritzburg. The launching ceremony was presided over by Dr. Blade Nzimande, Higher Education and Training Minister.
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The KwaMpumuza Skills Development Centre was developed as part of the first intra-SETA (Sector Education and Training Authority) collaborative infrastructure project. The project is being implemented by Construction Education & Training Authority (CETA) at an investment of R105 million. Wholesale and Retail Sector Education and Training Authority (W&RSETA) is also a part of the development team.
The department claims that the limited number of training facilities for developing artisans in KwaZulu-Natal is seen as an opportunity to work together. It results in the CETA’s collaboration with W&RSETA to build a skills development center (SDC). The KwaMpumuza Skills Development Centre project will be of benefit to the young people in the rural areas around and in the town of Vulindlela.
According to the department, phase 1 of the project’s construction is planned to be completed by 2024. About 175 jobs will be created during construction.
What will be housed by the KwaMpumuza Skills Development Centre
KwaMpumuza Skills Development Centre sits on 27 hectares piece of land. It will include an administration block, a retail business center, and fully equipped workshops for engineering and CETA-related trades. In addition, there will be a center for agriculture for training, warehousing, farming, and retail.
Moreover, there will be three lecture rooms, two sick rooms, and a workshop for hair and beauty, hospitality, and cooking trades. Furthermore, KwaMpumuza Skills Development Centre will have storage rooms, a 150-seat multipurpose hall, a septic sanitation system, and roads. Rainwater infrastructure, parking, landscaping, as well as bulk services will all be included.
The department stated that multiple amenities, such as human settlements, a small dairy operation, and a shopping center, are planned around the site. This will as a result make sure the project is sustainable. Small, Medium, and Micro Enterprises (SMMEs) will be trained through the incubation program. This SDC’s facilities will house the farming and agro-processing activities.
The college also plans to set up a multipurpose center, which will produce income for the institution. Graduates from the uMgungundlovu Technical Vocational Education and Training (TVET) College will form the staff complement, and students will receive practical training, according to the department.
