From the Desk of: Pumi Motsoahae Chief Executive Officer Richards Bay Industrial Development Zone
THE Richards Bay Industrial Development Zone (RIBDZ) recently realized its long-held aspiration of contributing towards the education of young, aspiring and determined youth of King Cetshwayo District. This was done through the Study Assistance Programme that was recently rolled out.
The eight achievers, carefully-selected from the Matric Class of 2017, were awarded full bursaries to assist them further their tertiary studies in the universities of their choice pursuing careers in a number of ‘scarce skills’ disciplines.
RBIDZ is an entity of the KwaZulu-Natal Department of Economic Development, Tourism and Environmental Affairs, which aims to attract local and foreign direct investments into the country for economic development, job creation, skills development and transfer.
It is, therefore, a huge responsibility for the organisation to ensure that the local youth is moulded and geared towards diverse and advanced opportunities brought along by seasoned investors of the world. The company’s outlook for its success is linked to a healthy, skilled and safe society. Hence, it is in its intent to invest in opportunities that will strengthen the development of our people.
Skills development is a national priority in South Africa and a critical factor to the future success of the country. Meeting South Africa’s skills needs requires input from numerous public and government institutions, as well as private organisations.
If we talk about skills development we talk about changing lives, empowering capabilities and enhancing the potential of employability and alignment of the skills to the economy. South Africa is a diverse country and its economy is divided into various sectors that drive the workforce.
In view of this, RBIDZ has pledged to play a meaningful and pro-active role in assisting to bridge this gap, preparing our youth for the workplace through a variety of learning and skills development opportunities.
It is a direct response to the market’s demands and government’s calls for reform in these scarce skills disciplines. The liberation of youth through a focus on the study areas of Engineering, Science, Town Planning, Technology and Economics is a drive to build diverse marketable talent that will enhance competitive opportunities created by the fast-changing era.
The RBIDZ believes that the investment in the education of a child, critically those coming from disadvantaged backgrounds, is a lifetime investment to the country and offers immense opportunities to untangle the chains of poverty. It is indisputable that education is the greatest equaliser of circumstances and that the students should use education to become globally competitive.
Youth of today are at the forefront of the struggle for economic emancipation, and the opportunity afforded to these children should allow them to spread their wings into heights for the betterment of the nation. The investment in these children is by no means regarded as a financial one alone, but it is ammunition in the fight for economic liberation.
Through its intervention at King Cetshwayo District, a rural part of northern KwaZulu-Natal, the RBIDZ aims to change lives, create a pathway for knowledge and make a difference to the future leaders of the country.
The dynamic team supported by the RBIDZ have set their goals high in the disciplines of Mechanical Engineering, Environment – Built Geosciences, Information Technology and Accounting. The future looks bright for them.